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Abstract
The forest is an essential natural resource providing multiple benefits to people. However, forests face several environmental problems created by modern industrial society such as acidification, eutrophication and global warming. This study investigated the environmental loads associated with the Spanish forest sector, where this activity plays an important role in socioeconomic development. A Eucalyptus globulus plantation located in north-western Spain was considered as a case study. Forest operations were divided into three subsystems: silvicultural operations, logging operations and secondary hauling. The results showed that logging operations consume more energy than any other part of the wood supply chain, with a remarkable contribution in the potential impact categories of global warming, acidification and photochemical oxidant formation. Transportation of timber from forest landing to industrial sites (secondary hauling) is the second most important energy user. Silvicultural operations made an important contribution to eutrophication, mainly due to phosphorus-based fertilizer application. This study will enable improved Iberian life cycle assessment studies of wood products in the absence of detailed studies for this region.
Acknowledgements
This research study was developed within the framework of the BIORENEW Integrated Project (project reference NMP2-CT-2006-026456). S. González-García would like to express her gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Education for financial support (grant reference AP2005-359 2374). The authors would also like to thank the ENCE pulpmill for the inventory data provided, as well as Skogforsk staff for all the information supplied. The paper has also benefited from co-operation with work under project number 518128 EFORWOOD within Thematic Priority 6.3 Global Change and Ecosystems.