One of West Africa's most impressive sites

The Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) is one of four Malian sites on the World Heritage List. It was inscribed as a mixed site (cultural and natural) in December 1989, under criteria (v)2 and (vii)3. Mali is a vast continental country in West Africa, covering 1,204,000 km2 and with a population of 14 million. The site in the Mopti region is quite large, one of the largest World Heritage mixed sites, extending over 4,000 km2. Over two-thirds of the inscribed area is covered by the Bandiagara plateau and cliffs, over 100 km south-west to northeast. This area includes 289 villages located in three natural regions: plateau, cliffs and plains. The populations settled here are mainly classified as Dogon, hence the additional designation of the site as Land of the Dogons.

The sustainable and productive management of World Heritage sites in Africa and the strict adherence to the principles of the 1972 World Heritage Convention require a better understanding, perception and interpretation of the concept of World Heritage on the part of population groups living in and around heritage sites. In working towards these aims the following questions have provided guidance:

• How can communities be involved in heritage management programmes and projects, in the context of local development?

• How can World Heritage status be of benefit to local populations and engage them in sustainable conservation of heritage sites and their resources?

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