Roundwood and bioenergy production from forestry : environmental impact assessment considering different logging systems
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2017
Citazione:
Roundwood and bioenergy production from forestry : environmental impact assessment considering different logging systems / A.R. Proto, J. Bacenetti, G. Macrì, G. Zimbalatti. - In: JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION. - ISSN 0959-6526. - 165(2017), pp. 1485-1498.
Abstract:
The aim of this paper is to analyse the environmental performances of three different extraction systems
for forestry considering three different scenarios concerning the valorisation of forest residuals are
analysed.
The compared tree extraction systems are characterised by felling and processing performed with
chainsaw and three different extraction methods: i) by farm tractor equipped with a winch; ii) by skidder
and iii) by cable crane. The “Full Tree System” was adopted for all the felling sites; trees were felled and
transported to roadside with branches and top intact. For wood chips produced from branches and tops,
different scenarios were considered: heat and electricity generation and substitution of wood-chip
production.
To evaluate the environmental performance the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach was applied.
The selected functional unit (FU) is 1 m3 of roundwood; the system boundary involves all the operations
carried out in forestry (felling, bunching, extraction, processing, chipping of forest residuals), the
transport of the produced wood chips and all the related inputs and emissions. A comparison with
previously carried out studies in similar geographic areas were performed.
The study's outcomes show how, the environmental results among the different logging systems are
not univocal and the best logging system depends on the considered impact category. Though cable
yarder is recognised as an extraction method able of reducing the physical impacts on residual stand
(wounding) and soil (disturbance and compaction), for 10 of the 12 impact categories evaluated in this
study, achieves the worst performances. The logging systems in which the extraction is performed using
the tractor and the skidder show the best performance for 6 of the 12 evaluated impact categories.
Finally, regarding wood residues utilisation and the impact of particulate matter formation, the energetic
valorisation of wood chips does not involve any benefit but involves a worsening of the environmental
performances due to wood combustion emissions.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Forestry; Life cycle assessment; Renewable energy; Cable yarder; Combustion emission
Elenco autori:
A.R. Proto, J. Bacenetti, G. Macrì, G. Zimbalatti
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