Clustered Land Restoration Projects Increase Cloud Formation in West African Drylands

Land restoration projects in West African drylands, particularly those with intermediate forest cover (43%) and higher clustering, significantly enhance cloud formation through stronger mesoscale circulation. This discovery challenges the assumption that increased forest cover alone always boosts cloud formation; instead, spatial arrangement plays a critical role. Researchers used the WRF mesoscale atmospheric model to analyze 27 restoration scenarios in the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, revealing that small-scale heterogeneity or high forest cover (85%) can inhibit cloud formation. These findings provide actionable insights for designing land restoration projects to maximize climate benefits, leveraging their potential to influence regional water and energy balances.

Ruijsch, J., Teuling, A. J., Taylor, C. M., Steeneveld, G. J., & Hutjes, R. W. A. (2026). Clustered Land Restoration Projects Increase Cloud Formation in West African Drylands. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 131(2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025jd044393