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SUPERYACHTS and their owners can be friends of the earth. Oh, yes. "Build a yacht. Protect the forests," says Philippe Mondielli, scientific director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
He was writing in a leaflet from the foundation's Wood Forever Pact, distributed at an awards ceremony for environmental scientists hosted by the foundation last month, which highlights ways in which the owners of superyachts can be "ethical" and "responsible".
"Rare tree species adorn yachts," the leaflet says. Teak "has a justified reputation as the perfect wood for decks", the foundation notes. But owners of superyachts who care about deforestation now "have the opportunity to make a real difference". They can "offset" the damage their yacht's building has done by sending a one-off donation to the Pact: €10 for each tonne ...
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