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Development programming in the forest-based sector under economic uncertainty - the case of Poland during the pandemic and post-pandemic crisis
The study discussed the possibilities of reducing economic uncertainty under crisis conditions, as one perspective to eliminate the risk of business decisions. The solution was sought on the case of forestry-based sector in Poland, which was threatened by irregularity and permanent uncertainty. Stakeholders of the 'primary wood-based market', in the value chain: forestry - forestry services - woodworking industry, were invited to participate in a diagnostic survey, using the technique of individual in-depth interviews (IDI). The data, collected in 2020 and revised in 2024, was processed in the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Based on the AHP approach, the authors' research scenario was designed. As a result, an optimal leading anti-crisis strategy was selected, relevant to the ‘market of uncertainty’. An opportunity for the forest-based sector could be an anti-crisis co-opetition strategy, based on networking, integrating all market actors. Finally, practical recommendations for mesoeconomic sectoral policy in forestry were formulated.
Analysis of Exhaust Emissions from Heavy-Duty Vehicles on Different Applications
Emissions from the road transport sector are a major contributor to the climate change. Commonly used heavy vehicles powered by diesel engines emit toxic and harmful compounds that adversely affect the environment. For this reason, increasingly newer Euro emission standards are being introduced. Therefore, the emission performance of heavy-duty vehicles used in the transportation processes of diverse loads was investigated. The first research object was a set of vehicles equipped with a crane used for loading and unloading timber. The measurements were carried out in a specially designed research test reflecting the way the vehicle is used. It consisted of the drive to the loading site, the transport of timber to the destination and the processes of loading and unloading timber. The test route included driving on both unpaved forest roads and asphalt roads. The second research object was a set of vehicles used in long-distance road transport. The research route characterizing the traffic of vehicles from the cited group was selected here. There were three stages of the route–urban, extra-urban and highway. The whole trip was carried out with a load of 24,800 kg. The testing equipment consisted of SEMTECH DS and AVL Micro Soot Sensor devices belonging to the PEMS (Portable Emission Measurement System) group. Based on the obtained results, the influence of the operating conditions on the exhaust emissions and fuel consumption was determined.
Wstępna ocena możliwości wzbogacenia walorów turystyczno-rekreacyjnych Puszczy Noteckiej poprzez zagospodarowanie wody z samowypływów
The Economic Potential of Stump Wood as an Energy Resource—A Polish Regional Case Study
This paper discusses the possibilities of using stump wood as a raw material for energy generation. The research was based on an analysis of the state of knowledge, forest field studies, and participatory observations. A formula was sought to optimise the procurement cost of stump wood appropriate to Polish conditions. Conceptualisation was carried out in a selected area of the Notecka Forest in the Wielkopolska region, located in western Poland. A pilot study was designed to test a computational formula to assess the profitability of harvesting wood from stump wood resources for energy generation. The potential of stump wood is estimated to be around half a million cubic metres per year from the Notecka Forest area alone. This resource provides an opportunity for business development in both forestry and the renewable energy sources (RESs) sector, despite the barriers and risks shown in this study.
Poziom optymalizacji przestrzeni wypełnienia pojazdów transportowych w logistyce jako pochodna wymiarów sortymentów drzewnych
The Influence of the Type and Condition of Road Surfaces on the Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Consumption in the Transport of Timber
Owing to society’s growing ecological awareness, researchers and car manufacturers have increasingly been focusing on the adverse impact of transport on the environment. Many scientific publications have been published addressing the influence of a variety of factors on the exhaust emissions generated by vehicles and machinery. In this paper, the authors present an analysis of the exhaust emissions of components such as CO, THC, and NOx in relation to the type and condition of the road surface. The analysis was performed on a heavy-duty truck designed for carriage of timber. The investigations were carried out with the use of the PEMS equipment (portable emission measurement system) on bitumen-paved roads and unpaved forest access roads. The portable measurement system allowed for an accurate determination of the influence of the road conditions on the operating parameters of the vehicle powertrain and its exhaust emissions. Additionally, the authors present the influence of the type of road surface on the vehicle fuel consumption calculated based on the carbon balance method.
Chemical Composition and Related Properties of Lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) Bark and Wood as Affected by Tree Growth Conditions
Tilia cordata Mill. is a favourite tree used in urban spaces. For this reason, it is important to know its sensitivity to environmental stress, which is particularly burdensome for vegetation in urban spaces. The aim of the study was to investigate the properties necessary to control the growth of these trees and their subsequent use, i.e., chemical properties (percentage contents of cellulose, holocellulose, lignin, pentosans and substances soluble in NaOH and EtOH) as well as the chemical elements (K, Na, Mg, Ca and Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, B, Ni, Cr, Al, As and Hg) and selected hygroscopic properties (hysteresis and sorption isotherms). Trees of Tilia cordata Mill. growing in environments exposed to environmental stress of varying severity were examined. Regardless of the growth conditions, in terms of its chemical composition, bark differs significantly from wood, showing twice the contents of soluble substances in NaOH and lignin and half the content of polysaccharides. Growth conditions clearly affect the range of selected chemical components in bark, e.g., substances soluble in ethanol, cellulose, or lignin. The main inorganic elements in bark and wood are Na, K, Ca, Mg and Zn. In bark, a relationship was found between the content of most chemical elements and differing environmental growth conditions. It was shown that environmental stress influenced the hygroscopic properties of wood and bark, which are a consequence of the percentage of chemical components.