Controllo delle emissioni di CO2 nelle operazioni forestali

Assessing CO2 emissions from forest harvesting operations is essential, especially as new machinery and innovative drive technologies are developed. While emissions from timber harvesting are relatively low in a global context, increasing mechanization could lead to higher emissions. Also factors such as stand conditions, terrain characteristics, wood species and operator performance can influence the emissions rate. A thorough assessment should start with an analysis of fuel consumption per unit of product (e.g. l m-3 or l t-1), as this is fundamental in determining the level of CO2 emissions. Indeed, carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (kg CO2 eq) can be determined by applying an emission factor of 2.61 to each liter of fuel. Given the EU's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, improving machine efficiency and introducing cleaner drive systems are key to achieving low-carbon forestry. This thesis is developed in the frame of the topic of the ESR07 (Early-Stage Researcher) within the ETN Skill-For.Action project founded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. The ETN Skill-For.Action project aims are to contribute and to enhance the better adaptation of forest ecosystems to climate change across Europe through creating novel and specific knowledge about improvement of carbon sink and optimizing its sources, as well as capacity building by integrating fundamental research aspects of forest ecology, modeling and applied science of forest engineering as well as risk management under uncertain future in terms of natural hazards.