This study focuses on understanding the socio-economic relevance of plant resources collected from the wild and its relation to current patterns of trade and sustainability. Grischa Brokamp reviews and analyzes the current extent of palm trade in northwestern South America, its impact, limitations and future perspective. Indeed there are conflicts between the commercialization of wild plant resources and the conservation of exploited species, which is illustrated by examples from the plant families Arecaceae and Krameriaceae Contents Standardized Data Collection on Trade in Palm Products Trade in Palm Products in North-Western South America Case study on Productivity and Management of Phytelephas aequatorialis (Arecaceae) in Ecuador Parasitism and Haustorium Anatomy of Krameria lappacea (Krameriaceae), an Endangered Medicinal Plant from the Andean Deserts Abundance, Seed Ecology, and Regeneration of Krameria lappacea from the Peruvian Andes  Target Groups Researchers and students in the fields of natural resource management and conservation biology Government officials, NGO representatives and practitioners in these areas  The Author Dr. Grischa Brokamp contributed to the EU-FP7-PALMS project and acquired his doctorate at Freie Universität Berlin.