Publication
Title
Towards consensus on land use on biodiversity in LCA : UNEP/SETAC life cycle initiative preliminary recommendations based on expert contributions
Author
Abstract
The United Nations Environment Programme/Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (UNEP/SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative organized two consensus-building workshops regarding Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) models and indicators for land use impacts on biodiversity. This article presents a synthesis of the main recommendations drawn from the opinions of the experts present, from the Initiative's perspective. The needs of LCA practitioners are crucial to determine what characteristics biodiversity assessment models should possess. Available models are mainly apt for impact hotspot detection in supply chains. If the goal is to assess the impacts of plot-level management practices they should be accompanied by other more detailed tools beyond LCA. Site-specific data are necessary to accurately assess biodiversity loss at regional and local scale, despite known constraints imposed by life cycle inventories. Examples of datasets are provided in this article. Species richness is a promising start for these models but it must be complemented with metrics for habitat configuration and intensity-based indicators. Finally, modelling results should be better coupled with policy decisions and existing strategic plans. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of cleaner production / Masson. - Science citation index
Publication
Science citation index : 2016
ISSN
0959-6526
DOI
10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2015.07.118
Volume/pages
112 :5 (2016) , p. 4283-4287
ISI
000368207500064
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Project info
Bio-LCA: Introducing biodiversity in life cycle assessment (LCA).
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 22.10.2015
Last edited 04.03.2024
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