Forest operations in coppice: Environmental assessment of two different logging methods

Area of Science:

• Forestry Science
• Environmental Science
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Wood is a renewable resource crucial for sustainable energy production.
• Forest management practices significantly influence environmental impacts.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is vital for evaluating the environmental footprint of renewable resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare environmental impacts of different firewood production systems in Mediterranean coppice forests.
• To analyze impacts across 'flat/low steep' and 'steep/very steep' terrains using LCA.
• To assess seven impact categories from felling to factory storage.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.
• Evaluated firewood production systems in central Italian Mediterranean coppice.
• Compared operations on flat versus steep terrains, considering manual and machine-assisted extraction.

Main Results:

• The extraction phase emerged as the primary contributor to environmental burdens in firewood production.
• Heavy machinery and high-power equipment intensified emissions compared to manual operations.
• Worker transportation to worksites represented a significant environmental burden.
• Soil compaction during extraction notably altered methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) exchanges.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing extraction methods, particularly favoring manual operations on steep terrain, can reduce environmental impacts.
• Minimizing machinery use and exploring alternative transport solutions for workers are key to enhancing sustainability.
• Understanding soil disturbance effects on greenhouse gas fluxes is crucial for comprehensive environmental assessment.