Ministries of Mercy - Life Ministries at 6363 9th Avenue North , St. Petersburg, FL 33710 US - Eco Palms

The Eco Palm project is an effort of the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation and the University of Minnesota Center for Intergrated Natural Resources.  Eco-Palms are palms that are harvested in an ecologically and socially sustainable way.  Harvesting palm products is an important source of income for many indigenous families and communities in Guatemala and Mexico.  Typically, palm harvesting is done by community members hired by local contractors, who then sell fronds to large floral export firms.  This method risks the rapid depletion of the forest’s rich biodiversity.  In fact, in Guatemala, the palm harvesters have received SmartWood certification from the Rainforest Alliance, a seal of approval that ensures consumers that the wood products they purchase come from forests managed to conserve biodiversity and support local communities.

The palm-producing areas tend to be the home of poorer segments of the rural population where the people rely heavily on the palm harvest for income.  The harvesters are paid on the quality of the fronds they harvest rather than the quantity, which helps them to limit the amount of fronds taken from the forest. Once harvested, rather than sending the fronds off to a distant warehouse for sorting and packaging, women in the communities have taken on these tasks themselves, allowing the community to sell their fronds directly rather than relying on middlemen—ensuring that more of the money paid for the fronds actually goes to those who worked the hardest to provide them, as well as providing jobs which previously were performed outside of the community.

Why should my parish switch to Eco Palms?

By switching to Eco Palms, your parish will be playing an important role in protecting forests, local jobs, and sustainable livelihoods in the harvesting communities.  This social and environmental justice project is a simple way for your parish to make a big difference and raise awareness about social concerns. 

How do I get involved?

Order your palms for Palm Sunday (March 16, 2008) online at www.lwr.org/palms.  Fill out a pre-order form today and you will be contacted by December 15, 2007.  Orders must be received by February 20, 2008.