We want to show that it is possible for people with an interest and passion for wildlife to make a small difference, even in their spare time. In so many countries it is often grassroots organisations that make a real difference with respect to social and environmental issues. This is because the power of human enthusiasm is such an important, but often overlooked resource. The danger of waiting for government agencies to ‘do something’ is that we could still be waiting long after the wildlife has disappeared from the deserts of the Arabian peninsula.