Hellfest donates €1m to reforestation group

France’s Hellfest has donated €1 million to musician-run not-for-profit Savage Lands to support the organisation’s ongoing reforestation efforts in Costa Rica and Europe.

Savage Lands, which was founded by musician-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel and Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren, has already protected 60,000 sq ft of rainforest using 100% of the royalties from their music.

Hellfest’s donation is part of a five-year partnership, with Savage Lands set to continue hosting a booth on the festival grounds.

“This is a historical move by Hellfest and a great signal to the music industry”, says Demercastel, who founded Savage Lands with Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren. “Such an extraordinarily generous donation from a renowned festival is just another example of the many ways that the metal community supports each other.”

“By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism”

Nordic collective Heilung have also pledged to donate $1 for every ticket sold on their US tour to assist Savage Lands’ reforestation efforts.

“Our goals are attainable,” adds Demercastel. “By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must act quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save.”

Created by Ben Barbaud and Yoann Le Nevé, Hellfest takes place in Clisson, 30km south-west from Nantes. This year’s edition of the 60,000-cap rock/metal event was headlined by Metallica, Foo Fighters, Avenged Sevenfold and Machine Head. It will return from 19-22 June 2025.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.