According to  Lutheran World Relief, approximately 300 million palm fronds are consumed in the United States each year, with about 700 fronds ordered for Palm Sunday services per church.

The problem just isn’t with the amount of palms used each year, but also with the areas in which they are harvested. Palm-providing areas tend to be poorer areas where people rely on the payment from their harvest for income; and regardless of the amounts purchased, farmers actually receive very little.

There are two issues at hand  – the amount given does not supply enough income for some families, and the large amounts purchased can result in over-harvesting, and thus, can threaten livelihood of these areas – as well as the environment.

However, new efforts are underway to protect the planet and provide a fair payment: eco-palms.

These palms are sustainably harvested; the harvesters are paid on the quality of the palms, rather than the quantity, to avoid excess amounts going unused. The communities are also educated in harvesting practices that minimize eco-impact. In some places, like Guatemala, they receive a certification called SmartWood. This seal of approval from the Rainforest Alliance ensures that the forests conserve biodiversity and support the communities.

In the past five years, the number of congregations using eco-palms has substantially grown. According to Lutheran World Services, churches and palms have increased their use of eco-palms, reducing the amount of waste while giving back more to harvesters.

• 2005: 22 churches in 4 states; 5,000 palm fronds
• 2006: 281 churches in 34 states; 80,000 palm fronds
• 2007: 1,400 churches in 49 states (and Okinawa); 360,000 palm fronds
• 2008: 2,100 churches in 49 states; 580,000 palm fronds
• 2009: 2,500 churches in 49 states; 650,000 palm fronds

“Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem was accented by the jubilant waving of palm branches,” Lutheran World explains on their website. “Unfortunately, for the communities where these palms are harvested, palm fronds do not always represent the same jubilation they do for us.”

Sources: New York Times and Lutheran World Services, University of Minnesota
For more information visit the Eco-Palm Project

Image courtesy of martinrandle.co.uk

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