Relevance and sustainability of wild plant collection in NW South America

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.