Palms, belonging to the Arecaceae family, are among the most common plants in tropical countries and provide a vast assortment of products ranging from food to construction materials, fibre and fuel. Tropical palms, originally published in 1998, has been updated in 2010 to include the most recent information and developments regarding the conservation status and use of various tropical palm species. It describes the many uses of the products derived from palms and provides updated references and sources of additional information. Palm products are considered both at the subsistence and commercial levels. Using this publication, readers will be able to assess the role of palms and their products within forest management, reforestation, agriculture and nature conservation activities.