Land degradation is a big issue in the Ethiopian highlands, affecting how well the land can be used for farming. A study looked at why farmers decide to invest in land conservation and how much they invest. They found that factors like poverty, land ownership, and distance from home influence these decisions. Poor farmers may or may not invest in conservation, and the amount they invest depends on how secure they feel about using the land in the future. If a farmer owns the land they are more likely to invest in conservation, and the distance from home also plays a role in their decision.