The vector data set is based on the FAO-UNESCO Soil Map of the World. The Digitized Soil Map of the World, at 1:5.000.000 scale, is in the Geographic projection (Latitude - Longitude) intersected with a template containing water related features (coastlines, lakes, glaciers and double-lined rivers). The Digital Soil Map of the World (except for the continent of Africa) was intersected with the Country Boundaries map from the World Data Bank II (with country boundaries updated to January 1994 at 1:3 000 000 scale), obtained from the US Government. For Africa, the country boundaries are derived from the FAO Country Boundaries on the original FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World. Country boundaries in both cases were checked and adjusted in certain places on the basis of FAO and UN conventions. The maps (jpg and pdf) are also available on the FAO soil Portal together with their reports for the following regions : North America, Mexico and Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, South Asia, Nortah and Central Asia, Sourtheast Asia and Australasia. [http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-maps-and-databases/faounesco-soil-map-of-the-world/en/]

This map provides a representation of levels of water scarcity by major hydrological basin, expressed in terms of the ratio between irrigation water that is consumed by plants through evapotranspiration and renewable fresh water resources. Contrarily to previous water scarcity maps, this map uses consumptive use of water rather than water withdrawal. Renewable fresh water resources as well as net irrigation water requirements in the river basin are calculated through a water balance model, with information regarding climate, soils and irrigated agriculture as input data. The legend distinguishes three classes: • Water scarcity in river basins where evapotranspiration due to irrigation is less than 10% of the total renewable water resources is classified as low; • Water scarcity in river basins where evapotranspiration due to irrigation is in between 10% and 20% of the total renewable water resources is classified as moderate; • Water scarcity in river basins where evapotranspiration due to irrigation is more than 20% of the total renewable water resources is classified as high.

Geo-referenced point database on dams in Africa.