High Accuracy Site-Specific Secondary Data for Mechanical Field Operations to Support LCA Studies

The aim of the study was to quantify site-specific secondary data of mechanical field operations for EU barley cropping. By the model ENVIAM v2, each operation was subdivided into 13 working times and, for each of them, the amount of total consuming inputs (fuel, lubricant and AdBlue\uae) and emissions of exhaust gases into the atmosphere were calculated. The amount of partial consuming inputs (machinery mass) and emissions of heavy metals into the soil were also quantified. Three scenarios (S) were identified: S1\u2009=\u200950 ha, S2\u2009=\u2009100 ha, S3\u2009=\u2009200 ha, with the same: agronomic conditions, operations sequence, type of machines used and cropping inputs. For each scenario, two barley ideotypes were analyzed: (i) currently in use (BarNow, 2018) and (ii) future (BarPlus, 2030). BarPlus is characterized by: (i) higher grain and straw yield, Nitrogen fertilization rate and machinery Effective Field Capacity, (ii) use of TIER 5 fuel engines, (iii) lower specific minimum fuel consumption. BarNow inputs (kg\ub7ha 121) were: fuel\u2009=\u200967 \uf7 74, lubricant\u2009=\u20090.56 \uf7 0.73, mass\u2009=\u20097.9 \uf7 8.8. BarPlus inputs (kg\ub7ha 121) were: fuel\u2009=\u200955 \uf7 60, lubricant\u2009=\u20090.53 \uf7 0.69, AdBlue\uae\u2009=\u20092.8 \uf7 3.0, mass\u2009=\u20097.2 \uf7 8.0. The highest fuel and mass consumptions were in both cases related to tillage operations

Estimation of carbon storage of forest biomass for voluntary carbon markets: preliminary results

Estimating the carbon storage of forests is essential to support climate change mitigation and promote the transition into a low-carbon emission economy. To achieve this goal, voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) are essential. VCMs are promoted by a spontaneous demand, not imposed by binding targets, as the regulated ones. In Italy, only in Veneto and Piedmont Regions (Northern Italy), VCMs through forestry activities were carried out. Valle Camonica District (Northern Italy, Lombardy Region) is ready for a local VCM, but carbon storage of its forests was never estimated. The aim of this work was to estimate the total carbon storage (TCS; t C ha 121) of forest biomass of Valle Camonica District, at the stand level, taking into account: (1) aboveground biomass, (2) belowground biomass, (3) deadwood, and (4) litter. We developed a user-friendly model, based on site-specifc primary (measured) data, and we applied it to a dataset of 2019 stands extracted from 45 Forest Management Plans. Preliminary results showed that, in 2016, the TCS achieved 76.02 t C ha 121. The aboveground biomass was the most relevant carbon pool (48.86 t C ha 121; 64.27% of TCS). From 2017 to 2029, through multifunctional forest management, the TCS could increase of 2.48 t C ha 121 (+3.26%). In the same period, assuming to convert coppices stands to high forests, an additional TCS of 0.78 t C ha 121 (equal to 2.85 t CO2 ha 121) in the aboveground biomass could be achieved without increasing forest areas. The additional carbon could be certifed and exchanged on a VCM, contributing to climate change mitigation at a local level

Sequestro della CO2 in foresta

La riduzione del livello di CO2 atmosferica (che ha ormai superato 410 ppm) rappresenta l\u2019obbiettivo pi\uf9 noto legato alla sostenibilit\ue0. La corretta gestione dei boschi \ue8 una soluzione a portata di mano; infatti, le foreste - oltre a assorbire la CO2 per crescere \u2013 possono stoccarla per lungo tempo nelle foglie, nel fusto e nelle radici. La biomassa legnosa prodotta pu\uf2 essere inoltre trasformata in energia, riducendo l\u2019impiego dei combustibili fossili e quindi ridurre ulteriormente la concentrazione di CO2 in atmosfera

Biomass and biofuels

Biomass includes all materials that contain organic carbon bound in the chemical structure of molecules, resulting from the chlorophylline photosynthesis, carried out by autotrophies organisms. Lots of biomass from agricultural, agri-food and forestry sectors can be used for energy purposes, representing an essential renewable energy source that, if appropriately managed, can help to reduce the negative environmental impacts arising from the exploitation of fossil fuels. The possibility of using biomass for a specific production process mainly depends on its physical and chemical properties. This paper is organized in two sections: in the first one, the most important biomass used worldwide for energy generation (thermal energy and/or electric energy), as well as its properties, are described. In the second one, the main biomass-to-energy processes (thermochemical and biochemical conversions) are shortly explained. Finally, some emerging techniques (such as bio-methane and bio-hydrogen production) are discussed in more detail

Measuring capacity building in communities: a review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although communities have long been exhorted to make efforts to enhance their own health, such approaches have often floundered and resulted in little or no health benefits when the capacity of the community has not been adequately strengthened. Thus being able to assess the capacity building process is paramount in facilitating action in communities for social and health improvement. The current review aims to i) identify all domains used in systematically documented frameworks developed by other authors to assess community capacity building; and ii) to identify the dimensions and attributes of each of the domains as ascribed by these authors and reassemble them into a comprehensive compilation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Relevant published articles were identified through systematic electronic searches of selected databases and the examination of the bibliographies of retrieved articles. Studies assessing capacity building or community development or community participation were selected and assessed for methodological quality, and quality in relation to the development and application of domains which were identified as constituents of community capacity building. Data extraction and analysis were undertaken using a realist synthesis approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighteen articles met the criteria for this review. The various domains to assess community capacity building were identified and reassembled into nine comprehensive domains: "learning opportunities and skills development", "resource mobilization", "partnership/linkages/networking", "leadership", "participatory decision-making", "assets-based approach", "sense of community", "communication", and "development pathway". Six sub-domains were also identified: "shared vision and clear goals", "community needs assessment", "process and outcome monitoring", "sustainability", "commitment to action" and "dissemination".</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The set of domains compiled in this review serve as a foundation for community-based work by those in the field seeking to support and nurture the development of competent communities. Further research is required to examine the robustness of capacity domains over time and to examine capacity development in association with health or other social outcomes.</p

High accuracy site-specific secondary data for mechanical field operations to support lca studies

[10.10] Methodologies to quantify the environmental impacts of mechanical field operations are widely applied, but, usually, system inputs and outputs come from international databases or literature and rarely represent the studied situation. The aim of the study was to quantify site-specific secondary data related to mechanical field operations in EU cereal cropping (from soil tillage to grain and straw transportation), paying particular attention to barley crop

Analisi della funzione ambientale degli ecosistemi forestali di Valle Camonica per la promozione di un mercato volontario locale di crediti di carbonio

L\u2019analisi della funzione ambientale degli ecosistemi forestali \ue8 fondamentale per promuovere interventi di decarbonizzazione territoriale al sostegno delle economie locali e favorire la transizione verso modelli di sviluppo a basse emissioni di gas serra (low-carbon emission economy). Il Mercato Volontario del Carbonio rappresenta lo strumento chiave per raggiungere tale obiettivo. La tematica, oltre a essere innovativa, \ue8 di grande attualit\ue0 sia per i decisori pubblici, sia per l\u2019imprenditoria locale. Il territorio ha bisogno di programmi e interventi concreti che considerino gli ecosistemi forestali come elementi trainanti per l\u2019economia locale e - attraverso una gestione attiva e multifunzionale - indispensabili per attuare uno sviluppo sostenibile