Guided by the "four pillars of Gross National Happiness sustainable development environmental protection, cultural preservation, and good government-Bhutan has pulled itself out of terrible poverty without exploiting its natural resources. Nearly three quarters of the country is still forested, with more than 25 percent designated as national parks and other protected areas- among the highest percentages in the world. Rates of illiteracy and infant mortality have fallen dramatically, and the economy is booming.