Desert or ruins made good (8)
I believe the answer is:
restored
'made good' is the definition.
(restore can mean to fix or make good)
'desert or ruins' is the wordplay.
'ruins' is an anagram indicator.
'desert'+'or'='desertor'
'desertor' anagrammed gives 'RESTORED'.
(Other definitions for restored that I've seen before include "Renovated" , "Returned to original condition or place" , "touched up?" , "Refurbished" , "Brought back to original condition" .)