I think this is a false report (consider the source!).
I happen to KNOW that most American Churches get their palms from several farms in South Florida. They are grown and harvested under careful conditions, as evidenced by the uniformity and health of the fronds used by churches (Catholic and Protestant) across America. If this article were true, the palms distributed would be various sizes, not green and healthy-looking like the palms we see. Thge harvest can only be done once a year anyway, so how could this be hurting the environment?
These family-owned and operated farms were featured on several TV documentaries, provide employment for harvesters during the off-season, and are a source of agricultural income for my state.
Not to mention they are a part of Christian Cultural life, which is, I suspect, the whole reason for this article in the first place.
I have no doubt that this is a false report.