Of the world's seven continents, Asia is the largest. Its physical landscapes, political units, and ethnic groups are both wide-ranging and many.  Southwest, South and Middle Asia are highly populated regions which, as a whole, cover an extremely large area of varied geography. In total, this domain is unique in its plant diversity and large vegetation zones with different communities and biomes. It is rich in endemics, with specific and intraspecific diversity of fruit trees and medicinal plants, including a number of rare, high value, species. At the same time, much of the land in the region is too dry or too rugged, with many geographical extremes. Overgrazing, oil and mineral extraction, and poaching are the major threats in the area.

This two-volume project focuses on the dynamic biodiversity of the region with in-depth analysis on phytosociology, plants, animals and agroecology.  There are also chapters that explore new applications as well as approaches to overcome problems associated with climate change. Much of the research and analysis are presented here for the first time.  We believe this work is a valuable resource for professionals and researchers working in the fields of plant diversity and vegetation, animal diversity and animal populations, and geo-diversity and sustainable land use, among others.

The first volume guides our readers to West Asia and the Caucasus region, while volume two focuses on issues unique to South and Middle Asia.

Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation in Palestine.- Lichens of the Negev Desert (Israel) - Diversity, distribution, and of the relationship with microclimate.- Lichens: Characteristics, importance, uses, distribution in Turkey.- Endangered swamp forests in Turkey - An ecological inventory, prospects and challenges.- Forest fires and sustainability in Mediterranean ecosystems.- Turkey's Wild Orchids.- Agrodiversity in Turkey: Case study on Rice.- Pepper Agrodiversity in West Asia.- Promising small molecules against cancer from Ganoderma genus.- The Vertebrate Biodiversity of Turkey.- Medicinal Plants of Northeast Anatolia.- Main Problems of the Sustainable Development of the South Caucasus and Processes of Transformation of Landscapes (Ecosystems) Biodiversity.- Forest cover for the safety of biosphere and environment.- Agrodiversity and Sustainable Development.- Plant Diversity and General Vegetation of Georgia.- Faunal Diversity in Georgia- General Perspective.- An Overview of the Plant Diversity of Azerbaijan.- Agrobiodiversity of Azerbaijan.- Faunal diversity of Azerbaijan.- Genus Crataegus (Rosaceae) in the flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.- Herbals used in Western Iran as food and for health treatments.- Fish Fauna in the Amur Water System of the Jewish Autonomous Region in Russia.- Paleogeography of Caspian Sea, Water Level Fluctuations and Consequences on the Environment and Civilization.