Interpretation:
This map shows three classifications of drought affected areas within Timor-Leste; high, medium and low. The majority of high and medium risk areas are close to the northern coast, which agrees with widely held understanding and anecdotal evidence. The map would be improved with representation of land use types such as rice and maize fields and village gardens, and existing groundwater irrigation systems. It could indicate likely locations for cultivation and development of irrigation resources such as dams, aqueducts and wells. It could potentially support decisions about agricultural microcredit, giving an indication of loan risk and discouraging inappropriate development in drought-prone areas. Maps such as these are particularly relevant when factoring in the expected consequences of climate change; which in Timor-Leste are expected to include increased rainfall variability during growing seasons, and, therefore, potentially more droughts.