During the Christmas holiday season, Continental Floral Greens (CFG) offered a fundraising program to churches across the United States. With each purchase of holiday greenery (wreaths, garlands and swags) a portion of all sales is contributed directly to the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The Maya Biosphere Reserve, in Petén, Guatemala, covers 5 million acres of beautiful, lush and productive tropical rainforest. This fragile rainforest faces the constant threats of deforestation from cattle ranchers, illegal farming, forest fires, and poaching.
CFG was introduced to the communities within this region many years ago, connecting through the University of Minnesota, when the Presbyterian Church began sourcing all the palms used in the Eco-Palms program. More than 1000 churches use these palms during Palm Sunday year after year. Not only are these palms used during the Easter season, but they continue to be imported from these communities throughout the year.