Besides providing a field for scientific research and for tourism, tropical forests are commercially important for such products as timber, nuts, honey, palm hearts, rubber, and resin.
Lisaks sellele on troopikametsadel ka kaubanduslik tähtsus, kuna neist saab puitu, pähkleid, mett, salat - euterpepalmi pehmeid oksi, kautšukit ja vaiku.