Enclosures are fencing structures that restrict animal and human access to land with the goal of supporting the regeneration or protection of said land. Enclosures also refer to the practice of fencing-off an area in order to protect it from human use and animal intrusion. The main goal of enclosures through fencing is to allow natural regeneration and rehabilitation of degraded lands within the enclosed space. This intervention fosters natural regeneration and helps to restore organic matter and a healthy soil structure. Enclosures can also be used to change the cover of the land to allow time for new land coverage (vegetation) to be established. Enclosures can be applied in a variety of different landscapes and environmental conditions. This technique is a relatively cheap intervention if the materials are available on site but can be somewhat more expensive where materials need to be acquired or where more sophisticated enclosures are built. Fencing could be done for a permanent or temporary use, and this is defined by the goal of the project. 

Some of the major features of exclosures and enclosures are the economic benefits linked to the environmental benefits coming as a result of their implementation. Firstly, the increased vegetation that comes as a result of fencing increases vegetation which in return enhances water-retention capacity of soil. This helps to both replenish the nutrients in the soil and to restore the ability of the soil to retain water.  Furthermore, the enhanced water retention capacity of the soil reduces the exposure to flood damage. When it comes to agriculture, enclosures and exclosures improve long-term returns from crop production and pastureland, as the long-term productivity of the land is improved by improved and regenerated soils. This helps to increase crop yields quality. Exclosures and enclosures can increase security of land tenure and make property rights clearer due to clear demarcations of the boundaries of your land. This can, in turn result in a higher willingness to invest in the land. Finally, enclosures and exclosures provide an opportunity for complimentary economic activities to be realised, such as harvesting grass (‘cut and carry’), extraction of wood, or growing of fruits and vegetables. Growing additional crops can also increase and diversify income streams and contribute to enhanced food security.