Niger is among the poorest nations. It suffers greatly from deforestation, which was exacerbated by colonial land management and tenure policies that discouraged responsible forestry. In 1983, Niger began experimenting with farmer-managed natural regeneration, which encouraged local farmers to regenerate existing trees and stumps to provide firewood and fodder and stabilize soils. When coupled with revised land tenure laws, a new forest code, and sector-specific policies encouraging reforestation, over five million hectares were reforested, which increased agricultural productivity, incomes, and food security. Notably, the reforestation program particularly helped women and other vulnerable groups. Women who lived in villages that adopted farmer-managed natural regeneration spent on average one-half hour collecting firewood while women who lived in villages that did not adopt this practice spent on average 2.5 hours collecting firewood. Researchers report that women, widows, and the landless poor saw improved access to land and an increase in income generation opportunities and that women’s social status improved due to their involvement in restoring degraded lands.