Study On The Influence Of Plantation Operation On Resource-Environment-Economics Based On Life Cycle Assessment Theory

The proportion of timber production from plantation in the total timber yield in China is becoming larger and larger. Compared with operation in natural forests, plantation operation faces more complex problems in resources, environment and economics. Therefore, it is necessary to study the influence of plantation operation on resources, environment and economics. Based on life cycle assessment theory, this paper analyzed the impact of plantation operation on resources, environment and economics within the domain of a life cycle. The main results of study are as follows.(1) The material flow analysis model in the plantation forest region was established using Bulk Internal Flow MFA. The amount and structure of both nutriment and biomass flows in plantation was quantified, as well as their characteristics. The results show that 70% nutriment absorbed from soil by trees remains in stumpages, while the rest 30% backflows to soil as dead branches and fallen leaves or by eluviations.60% biomass formed during woods growth is used in the form of logs.(2) In order to quantify the resource consumption and environment emission of plantation operation, process flow method was employed to construct process vectors, technology matrix and intervention matrix of plantation operation system. Furthermore, the results of inventory analysis were obtained. The calculations indicate that crude oil is the natural resource which plantation operation consumes most and the CO2 is the most emission to environment.(3) According to the basic framework and procedure of life cycle impact assessment, characterization factors and normalization reference values, as well as their weights, were calculated, using the domestic resources data. Two different kinds of indices, resource consumption index and environment emission index, were ultimately obtained. The research results demonstrate that the resource consumption index is much larger than the environment emission index for plantation operation. However, the influence of pollutant emission is significantly greater than abiotic resources consumption. The most important impact to the environment is the greenhouse effect.(4) In accordance with life cycle costing analysis theory, discounted cash flow analysis, real option analysis and system dynamics simulation were employed to calculate economic value of plantation operation and to simulate the felling-logging system. The research findings suggest that the main cost of plantation operation is tending operation cost, while the main uncertainty is the timber price changes. But the uncertainty would be profitable in the case that the managing personnel owns selection options. Moreover, the dynamics simulation results show that the input of felling equipment could affect the unit cost and efficiency of logging equipments.(5) The life cycle assessment system of plantation operation was programmed making use of resource-environment-economy impact analysis approach proposed in this paper. Based on spot investigation, the influence of 48 plantation operation models on resources, environment and economics was calculated individually. Furthermore, a comprehensive resources-environment-economics evaluation was established using grey clustering method. It turns out that the most ideal operation model is handcart skidding with truck hauling. And the plantation of 15a grown China fir gives the highest value.