The Maowusu Desert was created in the last century due to desertification, mostly began to erode in large amount from 1950s-1980s due to heavy industrialization, so if anything this is like a green reconquest, now birds and other seasonal animals are coming back.
Theres been some valid criticism and mixed results but it's only 15 percent complete, clearly it will take more effort, but no reason to fall into despair already:
https://www.euronews.com/living/2020/08/01/the-great-green-wall-of-africa-is-this-the-next-wonder-of-the-world