Developing indicators for the sustainable management of mountain forests using a modelling approach

Brang, Peter; Courbaud, Benoı̂t; Fischer, Anton; Kissling-Näf, Ingrid; Pettenella, D.; Schönenberger, Walter; Spörk, Josef; Grimm, Volker

doi:10.1016/s1389-9341(02)00011-4

Cited by 40 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…At present, local energy plants mostly use sawmill residues, while the amount of forest fuel is still small due to difficulties encountered when harvesting forest residues in steep terrain, and the resulting high supply costs (Secknus, 2007). Other authors have already pointed out the high cost of harvesting mountain forests and the consequent trend to disregard active forest management (Brang et al, 2002). However, since 2006, the State Forest Administration in Paneveggio has recorded a steady increase in the productivity of forest stands by introducing the recovery and chipping of forest residues.…”

Section: Environmental and Financial Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

LCA of environmental and socio-economic impacts related to wood energy production in alpine conditions: Valle di Fiemme (Italy)

Valente

Spinelli

Hillring

2011

Journal of Cleaner Production

103

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a b s t r a c t An extended Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is performed for evaluating the impacts of a woody biomass supply chain for heating plants in the alpine region. Three main aspects of sustainability are assessed: greenhouse gas emissions, represented by global warming potential (GWP) impact category, costs and direct employment potential. We investigate a whole tree system (innovative logging system) where the harvest of logging residues is integrated into the harvest of conventional wood products. The case study is performed in Valle di Fiemme in Trentino region (North Italy) and includes theoretical and practical elements. The system boundary is the alpine forest fuel system, from logging operations at the forest stand to combustion of woody biofuels at the heating plant. The functional unit is 1 m3 solid over bark of woody biomass, delivered to the district heating plant in Cavalese (Trento). The relative sustainability of traditional and innovative systems is compared and energy use is estimated. Results show that the overall GWP and costs are about 13 kg CO2equivalent and 42 euro per functional unit respectively for the innovative system. Along the product supply chain, chipping contributes the greatest share of GWP and energy use, while extraction by yarder has the highest financial costs. The GWP is reduced by 2.3 ton CO2equivalent when bioenergy substitutes fuel oil and 1.7 ton CO2equivalent when it substitutes natural gas. The sensitivity analysis illustrates that variations in fuel consumption and hourly rates of cost have a great influence on chipping operation and extraction by cable yarder concerning GWP and financial analysis, respectively. This is confirmed by sensitivity analysis. Better technologies, the use of biofuels along the product supply chain and more efficient systems might reduce these impacts. Replacing the traditional system with the innovative one reduces emissions and costs. A low energy input ratio is required for harvesting logging residues. The direct employment potential is a conflicting aspect and needs further investigations. IntroductionInternational and national policies support the utilization of renewable energy and bioenergy for several purposes i.e. climate change mitigation, energy supply security and energy source diversification. The Kyoto protocol agreement (United Nations, 1998), the European Union target of a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions, energy consumption and energy based on fossil fuels (European Union, 2009), and the assumption of carbon neutrality for biomass (International Energy Agency, 2007) are the main drivers behind the implementation of bioenergy production. Along the Alps, local communities show high levels of awareness regarding renewable energy sources, while provincial policy-makers have a keen concern for environmental protection, and are open to the use of bioenergy for mitigating the effects of global warming.

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Section: Environmental and Financial Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

LCA of environmental and socio-economic impacts related to wood energy production in alpine conditions: Valle di Fiemme (Italy)

Valente

Spinelli

Hillring

2011

Journal of Cleaner Production

103

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“…The use of woody biomass for energy has critical flaws (Sikkema et al, 2014;Thiffault et al, 2015). In the last years, various studies on forest policy subjects propose the development of criteria and indicators to assess the dynamics of forestry and forest management to promote sustainable and economically options for land use (Ananda and Herath, 2003;Brang et al, 2002;Mendoza and Prabhu, 2003). Besides, the forest strategy defined by the EU gives major importance to the cascade-use-of-wood which means that this raw-material should be used "in the following order of priorities: woodbased products, extending their service life, re-use, recycling, bio-energy and disposal" (EC, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An indicator to assess the pellet production per forest area. A case-study from Portugal

Freitas

2016

Forest Policy and Economics

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“…The main objectives in international meetings and studies were to designate the criteria and indicators and serve the common purposes of the users with common definitions in the monitoring, evaluating, reporting and policy-development processes (Brand 1997;Brang et al 2002;Mrozek et al 2006;Purnomo et al 2004). These objectives have been accepted by the 7 key levels regarded as the framework of SFM on a global scale, which were listed as follows: Extent of forest resources; biodiversity; health and vitality of forest ecosystems; protective functions of forests; productive functions of forests; socioeconomic functions; and legal, policy and institutional framework (Castañeda 2000;Grainger 2012;Siry et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Appropriate Biodiversity Indicators for Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management at National Level

Tolunay¹,

Akyol²

2015

JSM

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Developing indicators for the sustainable management of mountain forests using a modelling approach

Cited by 40 publications

References 11 publications

LCA of environmental and socio-economic impacts related to wood energy production in alpine conditions: Valle di Fiemme (Italy)

LCA of environmental and socio-economic impacts related to wood energy production in alpine conditions: Valle di Fiemme (Italy)

An indicator to assess the pellet production per forest area. A case-study from Portugal

Identification of Appropriate Biodiversity Indicators for Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management at National Level

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