Evaluating exclosure based soil restoration and farmers' perception in a degraded watershed of Ethiopia

Land degradation threatens agricultural productivity and ecosystem sustainability in Ethiopia, particularly in densely populated highland watersheds. Exclosure has been widely promoted for soil and land restoration; yet, empirical evidence integrating biophysical outcomes with farmers' perceptions remains limited. This study addresses this gap by assessing the impacts of exclosure-based soil management on key soil health indicators and examining farmers' perceptions in the Hayse sub-watershed, central Ethiopia. We employed a comparative field assessment of exclosure and adjacent open grazing land, combined with household survey data (n = 113), to understand how ecological outcomes and local acceptance jointly influence the viability of restoration interventions. Results show that exclosure significantly (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced soil organic matter, nutrient availability, and soil structure, indicating improved soil health and restoration potential. Farmers perceived exclosure as effective for reducing erosion and enhancing productivity, though concerns persist about short-term livelihood trade-offs and access restrictions. These findings underscore that while exclosure provides measurable soil restoration benefits, long-term sustainability depends on aligning ecological gains with local livelihood priorities. Therefore, integrating participatory management, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and complementary income opportunities is essential for scaling exclosure-based land management in degraded landscapes.