Evolution of land use environmental impact of eucalyptus globulus in the context of life cycle assessment

• Published in: Millenium (Viseu) Vol. 2; no. esp10; pp. 69 - 75
• Main Authors: Ferreira, José Vicente, Esteves, Bruno, Domingos, Idalina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese; English
• Published: Instituto Politécnico de Viseu (IPV) 29.07.2022; Instituto Politécnico de Viseu
• Subjects: avaliação do ciclo de vida; bosque; eucalipto globulus; eucalipto glóbulos; eucalyptus globulus; evaluación del ciclo de vida; floresta; forest; land use; life cycle assessment; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; uso de la tierra; uso do solo; uso do solo; eucalyptus globulus; forest; land use; eucalipto glóbulos; bosque; avaliação do ciclo de vida; eucalipto globulus; uso de la tierra; floresta; evaluación del ciclo de vida; life cycle assessment
• ISSN: 1647-662X; 0873-3015; 1647-662X
• DOI: 10.29352/mill0210e.24485

Abstract Introduction The eucalyptus globulus forest area in Continental Portugal has shown a systematic increase over the last 50 years. In 20015 it was the species with the highest forest land occupation representing 26.2% of the total Portuguese forest area. Although between 2005 and 2015 the occupation of the soil by eucalyptus globulus had grown about 7.5%, the existing volume increased slightly 0.2%. The wildfires had a strong impact on this with a total burnt area of 1.1 million hectares during this period. Objective Due to its economic value (national leader in exports of high added value) and social (contributes to the generation of thousands of jobs) this study aims to assess the evolution of the environmental impact of eucalyptus globulus on the land use between 2005 and 2015. Methods The life cycle assessment methodology is followed and the ILCD 2011 Midpoint+ method available in the SimaPro software was chosen to assess the land use environmental impact. Results Land use impact category of 1 m3 of eucalyptus globulus trees, standing, in forest, was 21832 Kg C deficit in 2005 and 23430 Kg c deficit in 2015 that means an increased about 7.3% during this period. Conclusion Transformation to forest road (from natural forest) is the process that most contributes for the land use impact with approximately 78%. Forest occupation is the second most important process representing about 19.5% of the total impact category and forest road occupation represents only 3%.