Stanley Schettino

The growing global demand for secure, low-carbon energy systems has intensified interest in renewable resources capable of simultaneously addressing climate change mitigation and long-term energy s...

This study evaluated the economic viability and risk of a eucalyptus forestry project by integrating deterministic and probabilistic economic analyses. Operational costs for motor–manual harvesting, manual extraction and loading, and forest transportation were estimated using standard cost models, while silvicultural, road maintenance, and transportation costs were obtained from operational records. Economic viability was assessed using Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Equivalent Annual Value (EAV), and Average Production Cost (APC). Economic risk was evaluated through Monte Carlo simulation (10,000 iterations), considering ±10% variation in interest rate, transportation distance, harvesting productivity, labor, fuel, lubricant, and road maintenance costs, followed by sensitivity and correlation analyses. The project was economically viable, presenting an NPV of USD 110.11 ha⁻¹, an IRR of 8.0%, an EAV of USD 20.43 ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and an APC of USD 29.11 m⁻³. Transportation distance showed a limited operational slack of only 10 km when land cost was considered, indicating that the project operates close to its economic limit. Monte Carlo simulation indicated an 11.5% probability of economic infeasibility, while interest rate, transportation distance, and manual loading cost exerted the greatest negative influence on NPV. The integrated deterministic and probabilistic approach enabled the identification of critical operational thresholds for transportation distance, timber price, wood productivity, and land cost under the evaluated conditions, providing practical decision-support parameters for transportation planning, cost management, and economic risk assessment in similar forestry projects.

The Brazilian planted forest sector plays a vital role in economic and environmental sustainability, favouring mechanisation to meet market demands. However, studies addressing operational performance in the northeastern region remain scarce, particularly under varying site and stand conditions. Moreover, there is a lack of predictive models that link forestry forwarder productivity to operational costs and extraction strategies adapted to local site variability. It is noteworthy that forest extraction in Brazil faces challenges due to the variability of edaphoclimatic conditions, impacting forestry forwarder productivity and operational costs. This study aimed to evaluate how specific operational factors (such as extraction distance, forestry forwarder load capacity, forest productivity, and time allocation within the machine's operational cycle) influence the efficiency and costs of timber extraction. Field data were collected in southern Bahia, a strategic area for the pulp and paper industry, across stands with distinct productivity levels and forest rotations. Time and motion studies, linear regression, and cost analysis revealed that predictive models explained up to 92% of forestry forwarder productivity. A strong inverse correlation was found between productivity and extraction distance. This result highlights the importance of minimising long hauls to reduce costs. Productivity was directly proportional to forest yield, with the forestry forwarder loading process representing up to 42% of the operational cycle. The use of higher-capacity forestry forwarders has optimised extraction, with an average of 21 m³ per trip. Cost analysis showed a 26% increase in cost per cubic metre with decreased forest yield and a 61% increase with longer extraction distances. These findings define optimal operational parameters for Southern Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, emphasising cost-efficiency and performance improvements.

O presente estudo teve como foco central realizar a otimização do corte de árvores para múltiplos produtos do gênero em três sítios diferentes nos cenários de desbastes testados e comparar os resultados obtidos considerando um cenário sem desbastes e aplicando diferentes taxas de desconto. Foram simulados dois tipos de desbastes, sendo eles, o desbaste seletivo por baixo e desbaste sistemático considerando cenários com 50% de remoção dos indivíduos aos 12 anos e corte final aos 20 anos, remoção de 35% dos indivíduos com 12 anos nos dois desbastes, 15% de remoção apenas com desbaste seletivo por baixo aos 16 anos e corte final aos 20 anos. Posteriormente estimou-se as estruturas diamétricas nas idades de desbaste até o corte final, tendo como ponto de partida uma estrutura prognosticada aos 12 anos que permitiu a realização da prognose para o próximo desbaste ou para o corte final com base em cada cenário. Após esta etapa, foi simulado o corte das árvores para múltiplos produtos em laminado; compensado; madeira serrada; madeira roliça e resíduos. Com as estimativas dos sortimentos, com valores de volume, número de toras e preço médio dos produtos foi realizada uma análise financeira através do cálculo do Valor Presente Líquido Infinito (VPL∞), Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), Valor Futuro Líquido (VFL), Valor Esperado da terra (VET) e razão custo benefício (B/C) para as taxas de desconto de 8%, 12% e 14% ao ano. Foi possível concluir que o cenário de desbaste sistemático retorna maiores receitas brutas. Na taxa de 8% de desconto, todos os sítios são viáveis economicamente no corte final aos 20 anos sem desbaste. E, por fim, para as taxas de 12 e 14% de desconto remover 50% das árvores sistematicamente aos 12 anos e corte final aos 20 anos é a opção mais viável economicamente para o sítio 1.

Reducing deforestation, combined with the role of forests as carbon sinks, is crucial for mitigating climate change. However, forest exploitation is necessary for sustainable economic development. The Amazon Rainforest, as the largest tropical forest and home to the highest biodiversity on the planet, plays a vital role in global climate regulation. Various factors, including social, ecological, and economic ones, influence the dynamics of forest exploitation in the region. This study aimed to conduct a qualitative systematic review of the past decade, focusing on technological and analytical solutions to enhance the traceability and commercialization of sustainable timber from the Amazon. The review followed PRISMA guidelines, using databases such as Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. The main findings indicate that integrating innovative technologies, such as isotopic analysis and Big Data, is essential for improving traceability and sustainability in the timber supply chain. The application of Sustainable Forest Management and Reduced-Impact Deforestation is crucial to balancing conservation and economic viability. Improving enforcement and using analytical tools can strengthen legal compliance and promote more transparent and responsible timber trade.

Workers involved in charcoal production face working conditions that require high energy expenditure, with activities involving moving and lifting loads, inadequate postures, repetitiveness, and consequently, the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. These factors are combined with adverse environmental conditions, such as intense heat, which further exacerbates health risks. This study aimed to assess the impact of work relationships in charcoal production on the physical integrity and health of workers, through the application of ergonomic tools. Factors such as thermal overload, physical workload, biomechanical factors, and the risk of developing repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) were evaluated. The results showed that the physical workload of workers varied from moderate to heavy, depending on the activity phase, with a high risk of developing RSI and spinal injuries, especially during the oven filling process. Additionally, the observed thermal overload exceeded the legal limits, making the work unsuitable without the implementation of appropriate control measures to ensure worker safety and health.

Este estudo realizou uma avaliação dos índices de acidentes de trabalho no setor florestal brasileiro, objetivando comparar com a média nacional e buscar o entendimento das causas da ocorrência de acidentes neste setor. Foram utilizados dados estatísticos de acidentes do trabalho no Brasil e informações contidas nos Anuários Estatísticos de Acidentes do Trabalho - AEAT, do Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego, referentes aos anos de 2018, 2020 e 2022. Os seguintes indicadores foram avaliados: taxa de incidência para o total de acidentes do trabalho; taxa de incidência específica para doenças do trabalho, acidentes típicos e incapacidade temporária; taxa de mortalidade; taxa de letalidade e taxa de acidentalidade proporcional específica para a faixa etária de 16 a 34 anos. Os resultados demonstraram que, embora em números absolutos, o setor florestal não se destaca perante aos demais setores da economia, a elevada incidência, acidentabilidade, gravidade e letalidade desses acidentes apontam que este setor se apresenta acima das médias nacionais em praticamente todos os indicadores. Concluiu-se que os trabalhadores do setor estão sujeitos à ambientes de trabalho com elevados risco e periculosidade, condições extremamente favoráveis a ocorrência de acidentes e ao surgimento de doenças ocupacionais.

O estudo analisou a viabilidade técnica e econômica de processar e carregar madeira nas bordas laterais dos talhões florestais, evitando o uso simultâneo das estradas vicinais pela colheita florestal e pelas comunidades locais, com o objetivo de melhorar a segurança e o relacionamento com essas comunidades. A pesquisa foi conduzida em seis talhões de uma empresa florestal em Urucuia, Minas Gerais, atravessados por uma estrada vicinal usada para transporte escolar, remoção de pacientes e escoamento agrícola. Simulações foram realizadas com base no microplanejamento operacional, transferindo o baldeio da madeira para margens que não fazem limite com a estrada vicinal. Os mapas foram tratados em ambiente QGIS, e os resultados das simulações foram comparados com a situação original, avaliando a distância média de arraste, produtividade e custo operacional, utilizando teste t para observações pareadas e empregando a análise de variância (ANOVA) para as análises estatísticas. O replanejamento resultou em um aumento de 27,1% na distância média de arraste, uma redução de 4,7% na produtividade das máquinas e um aumento de 5,0% no custo unitário. No entanto, não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa nos custos médios da atividade entre a situação original e a replanejada. Concluiu-se que o processamento e carregamento de madeira em estradas secundárias, longe das vicinais, pode ser realizado sem prejuízos operacionais ou econômicos significativos, e que o microplanejamento das atividades de colheita florestal deve levar em conta não apenas as variáveis ambientais e econômicas, mas também aspectos sociais, visando melhorar a segurança e o relacionamento com as comunidades locais.

The planted tree sector in Brazil plays a significant role in the national economy, driven by technological advancements in forestry machines, especially in harvesting. The interaction between operators and machines has become essential for improving performance and ensuring occupational health. This study analyzed forest harvesting machine operators, focusing on anthropometric surveys and proposing indicators for ergonomic satisfaction and cabin layout. Conducted between May 2022 and July 2023 in a northeastern Brazilian forestry company, data were collected during mechanized harvesting of a six-year-old Eucalyptus spp. stand using the cut-to-length system. A questionnaire was applied to 111 employees to assess their ergonomic satisfaction and health. Two indices were created: the Ergonomic Satisfaction Coefficient and the Occupational Health Coefficient. The anthropometric analysis evaluated operators’ percentiles and BMI, revealing that 77.77% were overweight, highlighting the need for health protection measures. The ergonomic indices proved effective in assessing operator satisfaction. The study also determined an adequate workstation layout for the sample group. From the Ergonomic Work Analysis perspective, FW2 and HV3 machines received a good rating based on the adopted parameters.