Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons)
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
- Other Threats:
Need to improve the conservation of both natural and cultural heritage
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Total amount approved : 78,900 USD
| 1998 | Exhibition on Dogon architecture (Approved) | 5,000 USD |
| 1997 | Mission for the inventory of architecture in the Land ... (Approved) | 19,700 USD |
| 1993 | Pilot inventory project in 3 villages in the site of ... (Approved) | 42,000 USD |
| 1990 | Preparation of a technical cooperation project for the ... (Approved) | 7,200 USD |
| 1988 | Mission for the preparation of a nomination file and a ... (Approved) | 5,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1998**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998
A cultural heritage inventory programme, financed by UNESCO’s World Heritage Fund in 1995-96, was the starting point of an important work of identification, diagnostic and ad hoc interventions that the Cultural Mission and other partners (Konstanz University and Mali research architects) carry out to improve the conservation of this heritage, which is both cultural and natural.
The Cultural Mission, with funding from the State of Mali, carries out in a continuous manner an awareness campaign throughout the 289 villages of the site, concerning the protection and the enhancement of the heritage elements. The «cities and historical sites» comprising the project «Urban Development and Decentralization» (UNDP), Land of the Dogons, are: the creation of a Documentation Centre on the Dogon Culture at Bandiagara, the rehabilitation of the Songo encampment and the management of the trails in the Sangha region.
Action Required
The Bureau may wish to adopt the following text and transmit it to the Committee for noting:
« The Bureau:
(i) congratulates the Mali authorities for the efforts undertaken to preserve this site inscribed on the World Heritage List,
(ii) invites the Mali authorities, in accordance with paragraph 56 of the «Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention» to:
i) co-ordinate international assistance,
ii) inform the World Heritage Committee, through the UNESCO Secretariat, of their intentions to undertake or to authorize, in an area protected by the Convention, major restoration works. »
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998
A cultural heritage inventory programme, financed by UNESCO’s World Heritage Fund in 1995-96, was the starting point of an important work of identification, diagnostic and ad hoc interventions that the Cultural Mission and other partners (Konstanz University and Mali research architects) carry out to improve the conservation of this heritage, which is both cultural and natural.
The Cultural Mission, with funding from the State of Mali, carries out in a continuous manner an awareness campaign throughout the 289 villages of the site, concerning the protection and the enhancement of the heritage elements. The « cities and historical sites » comprising the project for the Development and Decentralization (UNDP) of the Land of the Dogons are: the creation of a Documentation Centre on the Culture at Bandiagara, the rehabilitation of the encampment and the management of the trails in the region.
The Bureau congratulated the Mali authorities for the efforts undertaken to preserve this site inscribed on the World Heritage List. It invited the Mali authorities, in accordance with paragraph 56 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention to: (i) co-ordinate international assistance, and inform the World Heritage Committee, through the UNESCO Secretariat, of their intentions to undertake or to authorize, in an area protected by the Convention, major restoration works. The Bureau also encouraged the authorities to implement awareness building activities among the population.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 COM VII.30
Reports on the State of Conservation of Mixed Properties Noted by the Committee
VII.30 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-98/CONF.203/5) and included in Annex IV on the following properties:
Tasmanian Wilderness (Australia)
Mount Taishan (China, Peoples Republic of)
Mount Huangshan (China, People's Republic of)
Ohrid Region with its Cultural and Historical Aspect and its Natural Environment (Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of)
Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) (Mali)
Tongariro National Park (New Zealand).
No draft Decision
Mali
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
