In Cameroon, the Far North region is especially vulnerable to climate change. This Sudano-Sahelian zone is grappling with many environmental and social challenges, such as desertification, drought, natural resource degradation, flooding, and poverty. A large part of the population depends on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihood. In this regard, climate change is considered a major threat to achieving national poverty and food insecurity reduction goals.
A number of responses to climate change mitigation and adaptation also help to fight desertification and land degradation and improve food security. However, addressing land security is an important factor for the sustainability of these responses.
In an effort to strengthen these mechanisms and help achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 13, “Zero Hunger” and “Fight against Climate Change” respectively, this paper reviews some local land tenure practices in the Far North region with a focus on leasing. It examines the impact of land lease on the adoption of degraded land restoration and water management practices, which contribute to both climate change adaptation and the fight against desertification. It provides some recommendations for a wider adoption of these practices.