Biomass production from traditional coppice management in northern Italy

Traditional coppice stands cover millions of hectares throughout Europe and offer large amounts of biomass. The study analyzed 10 commercial coppice harvesting operations in northwestern Italy, where modern machines were deployed. Removals, prices, work, revenues and costs were carefully determined. Firewood was the main product, representing between 70% and 100% of the total product mass and value. Traditional coppice stands often yield over 200 m3 of energy biomass per hectare, at the time of cut. Cable yarding operations were better organized than ground-based operations, which explained why they incurred the same harvesting cost, despite the more challenging site conditions under which they were deployed. Mean harvesting cost was 45 € m−3, of which about 10% was needed for felling, 70% for extraction and processing, and the remaining 20% for loading and transportation. All operations accrued some profit, which varied between 13 and 43 € m−3 or between 1600 and 8600 € ha−1, depending on operational efficiency, value recovery and stand yield.