Evan Marks was born in Newport Beach, California. Growing up surfing, he gained a deep appreciation for the natural world. In high school he began volunteering with the Surfrider Foundation, which opened his awareness about local and global environmental issues. When he learned that the greatest environmental impacts and pollutants come from the agriculture, he became increasingly fascinated by the opportunities of alternative and sensible agricultural processes. Evan studied Agroecology and Natural History at the University of California Santa Cruz. During this time he traveled throughout Latin America, California and Hawaii studying Ecology, Natural History and Permaculture Design. 
Evan has continued his study of how humans most efficiently interact with ecology and agriculture throughout Latin America. He has designed and currently manages a model farm, Selva Nueva, which seeks to demonstrate sustainable development and Permaculture Design, highlighting the appropriate technologies of Agroforestry, Holistic Animal Management, Analogue Forestry, Natural Building and Aquaculture. Selva Nueva has turned into a premier center of education and demonstration in Sustainable Development and Restoration Ecology for the Osa Peninsula and Costa Rica as a whole. Evan is also involved in the Ecological Design of commercial, residential and agricultural landscapes with his design firm, Pacific Coast Permaculture Design, throughout Costa Rica, California and West Africa.