UNESCO Management Plans and community collaboration: a comparative analysis from Lyon, Djenné and Yazd

The article compares the management plans of three UNESCO World Heritage cities, Lyon, France, Djenné, Mali, and Yazd, Iran, to assess local community engagement in heritage conservation. The study explores cultural, social, and economic factors shaping participatory approaches, examining the roles of institutions, civil society, residents, and property owners. Analyzing management plans and their implementation highlights how local initiatives are received and sustained over time. The comparison reveals trends in community involvement, showing how spontaneous actions contribute to heritage durability, accountability and long-term preservation. Evaluating urban landscape preservation efforts, the study assesses how proposed measures translate into practice and their impact across different contexts, examining how heritage awareness spreads differently in each city and emphasizing the importance of local engagement in achieving effective and sustainable conservation strategies.