Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: MATHEUS VIANA DE SOUZA

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF WOOD FROM CAATINGA IN SMALL CONSTRUCTION COMPONENTS

Wood, Life Cycle Assessment, Caatinga, Sustainability.

The construction industry is a key player in economic development, but it has historically been associated with negative environmental impacts. In response to this scenario, sustainability has become a central concept, encompassing not only the design phases of a building but also the evaluation of construction materials and the environment after construction, aiming to change this reality. One promising approach has been the use of wood as a construction material due to its renewability, low carbon footprint, and reduced environmental impact compared to conventional materials. In the northeastern region of Brazil, the closest available wood stock belongs to the Caatinga biome, representing a potential source of raw material. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the environmental impact of wood utilization through a life cycle assessment (LCA), considering the extraction of native wood from the Caatinga and its use in the production of small-scale construction components, as well as the assessment of wood for energy generation. The research methodology involves a literature and documentary review, primary data collection, focusing on the management plan of the Quimporó farm (Cruzeta/RN), and four other active sustainable forest management plans in the state, with a focus on the analysis of wood processing for component production. Data analysis will be conducted using SimaPro software, with the assistance of the Ecoinvent® database, applying concepts of multicriteria analysis and circular economy.