Welcome to Savage Lands

We help finance reforestation and purchase of land
TO EXTEND GREEN AREAS AND CREATE SANCTUARY ZONES.

THIS ALLOWS FOR THE WILDERNESS TO EXIST
IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITH HUMAN SETTLEMENTS.

YOU CAN HELP!

The effective protection of nature depends on the space it is given. It’s essential to sanctuarize lands in order to preserve them and make them untouchable.

We organize initiatives with strong narratives involving brands, personalities and individuals in the financing of reforestation in Costa Rica, and everywhere we could be useful.

Coming from the world of music, entertainment and action sports, we benefit from a solid active background and continuous, direct contact with the public.

Dirk and Sylvain, initiators of the Savage Lands project

Dirk Verbeuren

Megadeth drummer, session musician, music teacher, wildlife enthusiast and animal rights supporter.

Sylvain Demercastel

Lifelong activist, musician, Costa Rican resident, defender of nature.

Our preservation strategy

Reforest

Hiring efficient local NGO Working for the ecosystems and  connecting local populations through on the field operations.

Sanctuarize

Purchasing lands and converting them into sanctuary zones. Or dealing with landowners in order to obtain ecological easements on  substantial portions of their land.

Labelize

By creating a local charter to increase forest density and protect threatened ecosystems. Our “My Forestlabel is an attemps to provide a sense of community action and pride to the landowners who register.

Honorary Members

Savage Lands active supporters

What makes this project special?

Networks

We build inspirational, captivating operations with high added value through events and partnerships. providing a feeling of belonging as well as usefulness.

Music

We work with famous actors of the music world. Creating music that will finance and promote our operations and send a message to the audiences..

Leadership

We mobilize communities by enlisting their local  and international leaders. We benefit from the notoriety of personalities and brands to reach their audiences.

What do we do exactly ?

Savagelands inc is a US based 501(c)(3) NGO and now also in Europe through a french association.  

Our 2 official missions are :

1 / Finance reforestation operations everywhere we can :

We hire local Non Profit to provide a plantation and follow up service. This allows us to contract the best offer depending on the country we’re working on. This reforestation strategy mostly occurs on private land and our main job is to get more people willing to reforest their property. We believe biodiversity has to be brought on every location. Big or small. 

 

2 / Buy lands in order to preserve natural forest that would otherwise be threatened :

As every location brings its own specificity, we try to adapt and find the right answer. The acquisition of land in order to preserve it from over development has a high cost as the most threatened lands are also the ones with more market value.  Our strategy allows us to join forces with other NGO’s or private people in order to cut the costs and regroup in a “trust” that includes ecological easements and preservation garanties.

 

3 / Produce music that will finance our operations

and serve as a voice for our organization, through concerts, video clips and partnerships with acknowledged artists

Our fundraising events, the music we produce, and our donation links do finance all aspects of our mission. We have chosen the most promising projects, primarily based on cost and impact potential so that our achievements can inspire other projects. 

Do something small but highly inspiring and visible in order to multiply the positive impacts.

 

Our Initiatives

V.I.P. WITH A MISSION

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Kiko loureiro

Use famous names and personalities in order to allow us to get faster results. Because this is URGENT ! First ones to say yes were musicians from the international metal scene.

Now the initiated movement is being watched and other artists and organizations are joining us because they want to take action !

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The My Forest concept offers each owner the chance to sign an agreement to have their land strategically planted and become a member of the “My Forest” community.

This local charter sets a new example and inspires others to Make it a new standard.

Costa Rica is a symbol. It allows us to speak to the widest audience and try to inspire other actions elsewhere.

Fueling an initiative for the world !

HELLFEST PARTNERSHIP

Stand savage lands hellfest
Savage Lands live hellfest
andreas kisser et ben barbeau signent avec savage lands

Visionary Hellfest creator Ben Barbeau, decided to support Savage Lands and the protection of biodiversity.

A 5 years contract including 1 million € donation over 5 years, and the presence of a Savage Lands booth on every edition untill 2029 at least.

Hellfest is one of the biggest and most iconic metal fest in the world. Now with this historical move they also stand as a major supporter for the wildlife cause, leading the way to other initiatives in the music world.

SUPERBAND

Savage Lands with Andreas Kisser
Savage team hellfest
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A group of world-renowned artists from different bands will join forces to embody this project. To create unique musical composition.

All proceeds of the sale of this piece of music will go directly towards reforestation and the purchase of lands. 

Music festivals are another good opportunity to raise funding and attention to forests and biodiversity..

Our goals

To bring a major philosophical change in our perception of nature.

Deadline

Unlike climate change, acting on biodiversity, forest and wildlife is very rewarding as results can be measured on a very short time scale. 

Let's act everywhere!

COSTA RICA IS AN EMBLEMATIC PLACE AND A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR MANY.
BUT THIS IS ONLY A FIRST STEP AND WE ARE WILLING TO ACT IN OTHER COUNTRIES SOON!

Savage Lands partners

Support us / join the team

About Dirk

Born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1975, started drums in 1991.

He moved to Nancy, study at the Music Academy International. Met with Sylvain Demercastel (Savage lands co-founder) in 1996 and started touring with Artsonic, releasing 2 albums together.

In 2005, Verbeuren joined Soilwork, and became a highly demanded session drummer. Working with artists including Devin Townsend, Fredrik Thordendal, Satyricon, Jeff Loomis and Warrel Dane.

Dave Mustaine officially announced Dirk Verbeuren as the new Megadeth drummer In 2016.

Dirk and Sylvain decided to act for the environment in a new type of way. Creating the first organization fully runned by artists. aiming to sanctify what is left of nature in order to protect it.

SAVAGE LANDS is founded and sustained by beautiful people such as, Stef Buriez of loudblast, Andreas Kisser of Sepultura, Kiko Loureiro of Megadeth, Christian Andreu and Mario Duplantier of Gojira, Blind guitars, Dunable Guitars and a growing legion of partners.

About Sylvain

Sylvain is en environmental activist for more than 25 years. He’s been playing in a band called ARTSONIC with Dirk Verbeuren in the 90’s touring in europe and releasing 2 albums together.

He’s also a PHOTOGRAPHER and MOVIE DIRECTOR.

Established in Costa Rica for 16 years, he started different reforestation initiatives in the Playa Negra area and is now, Co founder of Savage Lands with Dirk Verbeuren.