ABSTRACT

Traditional coppice stands represent a sizable proportion of the Mediterranean forests and are generally geared to the production of firewood, which is eventually fed to traditional stoves for residential heat generation. In recent years, an alternative use has developed whereby trees are chipped whole and chips are fed to centralized heating plants. This latter system allows full mechanization of all supply chain steps and is considered more suited to modern living habits; at the same time, its introduction has raised concerns about possible new impacts on sustainability. This study presents a sustainability impact analysis (SIA) of the two systems, conducted with the Tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment (ToSIA). The results indicate that the new system is generally preferable. All indicators point at the superiority of the new system over the traditional one, except for employment potential. Compared with traditional firewood systems, the innovative system requires fewer workers, but it pays better and offers much safer workplaces. While the energy efficiency of a district heating system is not much higher than that of modern firewood stoves, the larger centralized plant can be fitted with better filters and emits much less particulate matter, which makes it especially suited to support development at a local level. Even if mechanized cutting caused a 20% reduction of coppice yields – which has yet to be proven – the new system would still prove more sustainable than the traditional one.

摘要

传统的矮林在地中海森林中占有相当大的比例，通常用于生产木柴，木柴最终被送入传统炉灶以供住宅供热。近年来，已经开发出一种替代用途，将树木整片切碎，然后将木片送入集中供热厂。后一种系统允许所有供应链步骤完全机械化，被认为更适合现代生活习惯；与此同时，它的引入引起了人们对可持续性可能产生的新影响的担忧。本研究介绍了使用可持续性影响评估工具 (ToSIA) 进行的两个系统的可持续性影响分析 (SIA)。结果表明，新系统通常更可取。除就业潜力外，所有指标都表明新制度优于传统制度。与传统的柴火系统相比，这种创新系统需要的工人更少，但报酬更高，工作场所也更安全。虽然区域供热系统的能源效率并不比现代柴火炉高多少，但较大的集中式工厂可以配备更好的过滤器并排放更少的颗粒物，这使得它特别适合支持地方层面的发展。即使机械化切割导致矮林产量减少 20%——这一点尚未得到证实——新系统仍将证明比传统系统更具可持续性。创新系统需要更少的工人，但报酬更高，工作场所更安全。虽然区域供热系统的能源效率并不比现代柴火炉高多少，但较大的集中式工厂可以配备更好的过滤器并排放更少的颗粒物，这使得它特别适合支持地方层面的发展。即使机械化切割导致矮林产量减少 20%——这一点尚未得到证实——新系统仍将证明比传统系统更具可持续性。创新系统需要更少的工人，但报酬更高，工作场所更安全。虽然区域供热系统的能源效率并不比现代柴火炉高多少，但较大的集中式工厂可以配备更好的过滤器并排放更少的颗粒物，这使得它特别适合支持地方层面的发展。即使机械化切割导致矮林产量减少 20%——这一点尚未得到证实——新系统仍将证明比传统系统更具可持续性。这使得它特别适合支持地方层面的发展。即使机械化切割导致矮林产量减少 20%——这一点尚未得到证实——新系统仍将证明比传统系统更具可持续性。这使得它特别适合支持地方层面的发展。即使机械化切割导致矮林产量减少 20%——这一点尚未得到证实——新系统仍将证明比传统系统更具可持续性。