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The West African Sahel region is considered as on the Earth ‘Hotspot’ of Climate change. The region is warming at a higher rate than the Global rate and the rain regime represents more intense and sparse events. Temperatures are predicted to rise between 3 to 6°C and the rain is expected to be less frequent and more uneven. The region is experiencing an important demographic rise increasing the threats to the environment. The desertification process results in a shift in the vegetation community turning from a big, tall tree to a sparse shrubby landscape. The biodiversity in the region is crucially declining, natural rejuvenation process are becoming less frequent and even no longer observable for some species, putting in danger even the most distributed species like the emblematic baobab. The species composition is now evolving towards mainly drought and grazing resistant species. With the local population relying on the forest biodiversity for their entire livelihoods, this loss of tree species diversity could have dramatic consequences, especially for the already insecure populations. Moreover, forests is a source of many ecosystem services that are essential for the ecosystem well-bein, acting as support or regulatory factor. Therefore, the entire ecosystem relies on the integrity of its diversity composition. In order to counteract this important decline, restoration programs have been created. Tree seeding appears as one of the most viable solutions, but its chances of success are low. Water harvesting is the main challenges that these programs are facing in these dry degraded lands. The plow of the soil in the form of half-moons allows water retention and increase its infiltration in the soil. The species selection also represents a challenge due to the availability of qualitative seeds and due to the severity of the environmental conditions. Local species represent the best solutions as they are adapted to the local environment and will not affect the existing species composition. The study of the plant functional traits can help to predict a plant response to environmental variables. Therefore, the study of the functional traits of the vegetation cover of the restoration sites could help increase the chances of restoration success. The results from the study of the regional vegetation cover reveal the adequacy of the species usually used in restoration programs. Moreover, the ordination of the species according to the traits’ characterization showed the resilience potential of the natural community. From the restoration sites, 27 species had been found at an early growing stage while only 8 species had been seeded. The presence of the non-seeded species testifies of an edge effect. It usually consists in one single plant; therefore, the effect is still shy. This edge effect seemed more consequent regarding the herbaceous cover as the number of herbaceous species is equal in and around the restoration sites. The soil structure seemed correlated to the herbaceous richness while no correlation appeared between soil quality and tree species inn this first season of restoration. The analysis of the functional traits of the trees growing in the restoration sites emphasize the serious need for biodiversity for an environment biodiversity for an environment to be adequately resistant and resilient but also to be able to provide restoration success, productivity and functionality.