Promoting diversity is core for ecological restoration. Restoration projects often quantify biological diversity as a measure of success, but generally overlook human diversity, including gender issues, which have not been sufficiently considered in restoration planning, implementation, and monitoring. Here, we justify the need to consider gender equality in ecological restoration and offer guidance on adopting gender-responsive approaches. Gender equality should be considered both a driver and a measure of success and will play a central role to leverage the contributions of restoration to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and of women to its Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. We finally recommend that the International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration are amended to include a gender-responsive perspective in its recommendations.