If you were to conjure up an image in your mind of the Middle East you might picture camels, lush green oasis, rolling sand dunes and Bedouin nomads trekking through the desert in search of elusive water sources. An image like this can feel more like the backdrop to a Lawrence of Arabia style film than a true representation of the modern day Middle East where the contrasts are sharper than ever. From traditional subsistence to luxury lifestyles the Middle East has it all and the transformation of the region has happened in the blink of eye. Yet, with this rapid change there has also been a marked decline in biodiversity across the Middle East and this is naturally cause for concern. The region has been home to some of the most significant empires in history and has in many ways transformed our understanding of the world around us as great Arab scholars have researched and produced works in mathematics, science and literature. Today, they must channel their efforts into a new field of work; the conservation of the natural world, particularly those fragile ecosystems in the Middle East which are hanging on by a thread. This mini report will provide an overview of how our presence is impacting on the natural world and present four regional case studies; Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel and Palestine to better illustrate biodiversity in a national context.