\n\tIn 1992, Man\u00e1 scored a hit with \u201cVivir Sin Aire,\u201d a love song that also served as a metaphor for the environment \u2014 and set the Mexican rock band down a path it still walks today. Not only has the group included one song inspired by environmental or social change on every album since, but in 1996, the band \u2014 comprising Fernando \u201cFher\u201d Olvera, Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez, Sergio Vall\u00edn and Juan Calleros \u2014 cemented its environmental commitment by launching the Selva Negra (Black Jungle) Ecological Foundation, which protects species, restores ecosystems and promotes \u00adenvironmental education.<\/p>\n
\n\tNearly 30 years since its creation, Selva Negra has more than delivered on its mission. It has directly hatched and released 8 million sea turtles, planted over 800,000 trees, produced over 500,000 plants in its communal greenhouse and worked with the Interamerican Development Bank to help preserve Mexican forests and promote projects to raise consciousness on climate change, among many other actions. All the while, the foundation has promoted myriad social justice causes, including providing support and dignified living to immigrant communities in the United States, Mexico and Latin countries.<\/p>\n
\n\tSpeaking from his home base of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico \u2014 and wearing a silver charm of a sea turtle, his favorite animal, around his neck \u2014 Man\u00e1 frontman and Selva Negra president Olvera speaks on why the work is never over.<\/p>\n \n\tSeveral years ago, you spoke about a plan to develop an environmental curriculum<\/strong> \n\tWe do a lot of environmental education on the ground. But what\u2019s most important, and what we tried to achieve with the \u00adprevious governments, was making ecology a part of the core school curriculum like geography or math. It\u2019s coming along, but our government doesn\u2019t understand the \u00adenvironment. We\u2019re trying to change that.<\/p>\n \n\tOn the band\u2019s last U.S. tour, you donated to many organizations that help migrants. What is your position on that issue?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tMore than a political position, it\u2019s a humanitarian position. When we spent time with [President Barack] Obama in the White House, we weren\u2019t supporting Democrats or Republicans \u2014 we were supporting the people who work, who put bread on the tables of American families. We are for human rights. The Latin community in the United States is so strong now that it can change an election, and presidents can no longer offend Latins so easily. Well, some can.<\/p>\n \n\tTell us about Platanitos, the place where you have your turtle preserve.<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s very close, in an area called Nayarit [Mexico]. Platanitos is an enormous beach where the government has an untouchable reserve, and we partnered with them to take care of the turtles. In Platanitos, we have a conservation station that houses the biologists and the team that takes care of the turtles. They collect the eggs, put them in a protected area. There they grow for a little over a month until they hatch, and they push the baby turtles to sea at night so no predators eat them. Last year, we liberated to sea almost 1 million baby turtles, our record. There are many turtle camps worldwide. It shows that man can do good with the same hand that does harm. We took a single species, but there are many more.<\/p>\n \n\tDo you feel artists have an obligation to promote social justice now more than ever?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tIf it comes from the heart, yes. If it\u2019s not within them, and it\u2019s against my principles to say this, they\u2019re under no obligation. An artist\u2019s obligation is to make good art \u2014 to give the best of themselves in their songs, their lyrics, the arrangements, everything that makes up the music. Now, if on top of that they want to talk about women\u2019s rights, or education rights, or health, the environment, whatever, then that\u2019s the cherry on the cake. I believe many people have been inspired by Man\u00e1 to protect the environment \u2014 to think globally and act locally.<\/p>\n![\"Sound,](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/sound-selva-negra-billboard-espanol-2024-bb05-2-1240.jpg?w=1024\")
<\/strong>for schools. How is that coming along?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Sound,](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/sound-selva-negra-billboard-espanol-2024-bb05-3-1240.jpg?w=1024\")