Spatially optimized cropland distribution promotes sustainable farming and vegetation restoration in mountainous regions.

China's Grain‐for‐Green Program (GFGP) motivates conversion from steep slope cropland to forest or grassland to reverse serious land degradation. However, impoverished farmers potentially persist with inefficient slope farming for survival, thereby threatening the sustainable GFGP efforts. Consequently, a strategy for balancing farming and vegetation restoration from a spatial optimization perspective is necessary. Here, we selected two catchments with high and low agricultural intensity in the loess hilly and gully regions for a case study. Spatial analysis and binary logistic regression models were used to clarify the effects of topography, accessibility, and location factors on cropland distribution and explore spatially optimized cropland distribution. The results show that steep slope cropland is still widespread, of which cropland with slopes >15° accounts for 46.7% and 34.7% in the two catchments, respectively. Residences and roads significantly impact steep slope cropland distribution, and around 80% of cropland with slopes >15° is distributed within 200 m from residences or 100 m from roads. In cropland redistribution scenarios, cropland with slopes >25° and >15° can be redistributed to gentler slopes while maintaining cropland areas in catchments with high and low agricultural intensity. Correspondingly, 38.8% and 81.2%, respectively, of simulated cropland on gentle slopes needs optimized attributes such as accessibility in order to be priorities of farmers. Our research provides new insights into GFGP strategies for steep slope cropland restoration in catchments with different agricultural intensities, thereby advancing sustainable farming and vegetation restoration in China's mountainous regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]