Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants and orchids are one of the most threatened plants due to habitat destruction and climate change, but many of them are also threatened by illegal harvest for horticulture, cultural use, food and medicine. In this review paper, trade related activities, economic importance of valuable orchid species and conservation measures are discussed in detail with a view to developing approaches that may allow us to address the threats on a broader scale to complement focused approaches for the species that are identified as being at the highest risk.