The gendered effects of agricultural practices on land degradation and restoration in two contrasting agro-ecological zones of Cameroon

Land degradation remains a major challenge to rural livelihoods and ecosystem sustainability across sub-Saharan Africa, with restoration efforts increasingly recognized as both ecological and governance challenges. While growing attention has been paid to gender-responsive restoration, limited research has examined how gendered land governance systems, tenure relations, and socio-ecological contexts shape perceptions of degradation and restoration practices. This study assessed gendered dimensions of land degradation and restoration across two contrasting agroecological zones in Cameroon, Pitoa in the Sudano-Sahelian zone and Balatchi in the humid Western Highlands. Using a mixed-methods approach combining household surveys (n = 320), participatory biophysical assessments using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF), and geospatial analysis, the study examined perceptions of degradation, restoration practices, training participation, and factors influencing restoration adoption among male and female land users. The findings reveal both shared and differentiated perceptions of land degradation between men and women. While there was moderate overall agreement on degradation drivers (Kendall's coefficient of concordance (wt) = 0.64), low within-gender scores (wt = 0.30 for both men and women) highlight substantial intra-group variation. This suggests that gender alone cannot explain the full diversity of perceptions; other intersecting factors, such as age, tenure, education, and livelihood, likely shape individual viewpoints. Women showed stronger engagement in restoration practices linked to soil fertility improvement, including crop rotation, organic manure application, and agroforestry, while men more frequently emphasized market-oriented and input-intensive strategies. However, restoration decisions were strongly shaped not only by gender roles, but also by unequal access to land, labour, financial resources, training opportunities, and decision-making power. The study further demonstrates that access to land does not necessarily translate into secure control over land or restoration benefits, particularly for women operating under customary tenure systems. The results highlight the importance of integrating gender-responsive and rights-based governance approaches into restoration policy and practice. Effective restoration requires not only ecological rehabilitation, but also strengthened tenure security, inclusive participation, and equitable access to restoration resources and benefits. By linking biophysical assessment with gendered land governance analysis, the study contributes to emerging debates on socially inclusive and sustainable land restoration in sub-Saharan Africa.