The majority area belongs to the Sahelian zone known but is a particular ecological unit as a wetland. It covers an area ranging from 30,000 to 35.000Km2 and includes the floodplains of the Niger and Bani, the continental rise of the South -West north - east of the lake area from Delta beyond Erg Bara as well as parts of Ségou, Mopti and Timbuktu (lakeside area) .C 'is the area filled most birds, composed in particular from 11 to 19 migratory bird species. The natural vegetation of the area is also characterized by a wide range of plant diversity and rich aquatic meadows bourgoutières (Echinochloa stagnina) associated with herbaceous pasture land based Andropogon gayanus, Cynodondactylon, Bracharia nutica ... etc.

Practices: The main agricultural practices are: - systems based on transhumance of livestock and recession crops; - systems based on transhumance of livestock and rainfed; - irrigated systems.

other Saharan zone

This area covers the north of Mali, with an area of 632,000 km2 or 51% of the national territory. It completely covers the region of Kidal and many of the regions of Timbuktu and Gao. The main source of income in the area is the breeding, especially that of camels and goats / sheep Nomad system is based on the exploitation of natural pastures and water points is the most dominant production system. . The area is characterized by a mixed vegetation, rare and absent.

Practices: pure pastoral systems are distinguished there and those who associate animal husbandry and rainfed subsistence, local market gardening and date palm breeding or associated with recession crops.

plains Sahel

The area covers an area of 285,000km2 23% of the territory. It consists of two subzones: the northern half or Sahel-Saharan region and the southern half or Sahelian Sudan zone. The rainy season lasts 3 to 4 months (June to September), and the area holds significant potential in surface water (Niger, Bani, lakes and ponds) .The 2/3 of the area have an average fertility low and generally susceptible to wind erosion. C is the preferred area of livestock transhumance. The vegetation consists of steppes north and savannah has predominance of woody multipurpose species (Acacia Seyal, Acacia senegalensis Boscia senegalensis Hyphaene thebaica), desert date south.

Practices: Agricultural practice consists of various pastoral systems: pastoral -system associated with rainfed crops, market gardening, and date palm; -system pastoral associated with recession crops.

other Sudano Guinean Zone

Covering an area of 75.000km2, or more than 6% of the territory is located in the extreme south of the country the rainfall in the area varies from 800 to more than 1000 mm / year and lasts for six months. These red tropical soils are generally deeper and more fertile, but very sensitive to water erosion. This area until a recent past called onchocerciasis is still poorly exploited, but is a coveted potential for agro forestry pastoral activities.

Practices: The main agricultural practices are: -the simple rainfed systems; - rainfed systems related to cotton; -The fishing systems; -The urban perished specialized systems.