ABSTRACT
The development of the FAO legend is intimately linked with the development of the FAO/UNESCO Soil Map of the World. Therefore the historical development of the map is discussed first, including its present update under the global SOTER (Soil and Terrain Database) program. Then the evolution from the FAO Legend toward the World Reference Base (WRB), an internationally endorsed soil correlation system, is documented. Anticipated and desirable future developments for both the global SOTER and the WRB are highlighted.
