Assessment and Sustainability of Logging Operations in Calabrian Pine High Forests

Forest mechanisation plays an important role in increasing labour productivity and reducing production costs. This work aims at evaluating various logging scenarios in Calabrian pine high forests, considering technical, economic and environmental aspects. The cut-to-length system was adopted and str...

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Main Authors: Bruno Bernardi, Giorgio Macrì, Giacomo Falcone, Teodora Stillitano, Souraya Benalia, Anna Irene De Luca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/3/403
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author Bruno Bernardi
Giorgio Macrì
Giacomo Falcone
Teodora Stillitano
Souraya Benalia
Anna Irene De Luca
author_facet Bruno Bernardi
Giorgio Macrì
Giacomo Falcone
Teodora Stillitano
Souraya Benalia
Anna Irene De Luca
author_sort Bruno Bernardi
collection DOAJ
description Forest mechanisation plays an important role in increasing labour productivity and reducing production costs. This work aims at evaluating various logging scenarios in Calabrian pine high forests, considering technical, economic and environmental aspects. The cut-to-length system was adopted and structured as follows: felling and processing operations were carried out using a medium-sized chainsaw while extraction of the processed material was carried out using three different vehicles for timber extraction: (i) by cable skidder, (ii) by grapple skidder and (iii) by a forwarder. The methodology was based on productivity analysis and production cost analysis, while for environmental performance, the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was adopted. The selected functional unit (FU) was referred to as 1 h of logging operations. However, to assess the resulting usefulness, further analyses were performed using an alternative FU consisting of 1 m<sup>3</sup> of round wood. The study’s outcomes show the complexity in achieving an optimal balance between productivity, economic aspects and sustainable management in forest operations.
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spelling doaj.art-622114b2456840a985d3e18cf293eaa22023-11-24T01:12:39ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-03-0113340310.3390/f13030403Assessment and Sustainability of Logging Operations in Calabrian Pine High ForestsBruno Bernardi0Giorgio Macrì1Giacomo Falcone2Teodora Stillitano3Souraya Benalia4Anna Irene De Luca5Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Località Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Località Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Località Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Località Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Località Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyDipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Località Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, ItalyForest mechanisation plays an important role in increasing labour productivity and reducing production costs. This work aims at evaluating various logging scenarios in Calabrian pine high forests, considering technical, economic and environmental aspects. The cut-to-length system was adopted and structured as follows: felling and processing operations were carried out using a medium-sized chainsaw while extraction of the processed material was carried out using three different vehicles for timber extraction: (i) by cable skidder, (ii) by grapple skidder and (iii) by a forwarder. The methodology was based on productivity analysis and production cost analysis, while for environmental performance, the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was adopted. The selected functional unit (FU) was referred to as 1 h of logging operations. However, to assess the resulting usefulness, further analyses were performed using an alternative FU consisting of 1 m<sup>3</sup> of round wood. The study’s outcomes show the complexity in achieving an optimal balance between productivity, economic aspects and sustainable management in forest operations.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/3/403forest mechanisationskidderforwarderwork productivityeconomic analysislife cycle assessment (LCA)
spellingShingle Bruno Bernardi
Giorgio Macrì
Giacomo Falcone
Teodora Stillitano
Souraya Benalia
Anna Irene De Luca
Assessment and Sustainability of Logging Operations in Calabrian Pine High Forests
Forests
forest mechanisation
skidder
forwarder
work productivity
economic analysis
life cycle assessment (LCA)
title Assessment and Sustainability of Logging Operations in Calabrian Pine High Forests
title_full Assessment and Sustainability of Logging Operations in Calabrian Pine High Forests
title_fullStr Assessment and Sustainability of Logging Operations in Calabrian Pine High Forests
title_full_unstemmed Assessment and Sustainability of Logging Operations in Calabrian Pine High Forests
title_short Assessment and Sustainability of Logging Operations in Calabrian Pine High Forests
title_sort assessment and sustainability of logging operations in calabrian pine high forests
topic forest mechanisation
skidder
forwarder
work productivity
economic analysis
life cycle assessment (LCA)
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/3/403
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