IMPACTO DE LA TRANSFORMACIÓN POTENCIAL DEL USO DEL SUELO EN EL ACV: APLICACIÓN A LOS ARROZALES DEL LEVANTE ESPAÑOL

Abstract

The term ‘impact of land use’ has been used in the field of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to denote environmental impacts relating to the occupation and physical transformation of land areas. This paper presents a detailed methodology for assessing the impact of any potential change in land use on key natural resources (fertile soil -or life support functions-, biodiversity and landscape quality). By means of Multicriteria Decision Analysis (Analytical Hierarchic Process, AHP), these three variables are integrated in a single synthetic impact index. This method has been applied in the hypothetical transforming rice field soil in Eastern Spain if the rice husks, a byproduct of this crop, are valued or not as a reinforcement raw material to develop new composites. Finally, the best options, both qualitatively and quantitatively, for potential transformation in terms of feasibility and impact caused are highlighted. Keywords: LCA; land use; land transformation; rice field; AHP