Bioenergy has a key role in the European Union (EU) policy aimed at enhancing energy security and mitigating climate change. In the implementation of EU policy at national, and—especially—at regional and local levels, the inclusion of stakeholders' opinions is crucial to increase social acceptance and to reduce conflicts between the parties. This study analyzes stakeholders' opinions of biomass-based energy development at the local level (Sarentino valley, South Tyrol region, Italy) by using the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)-AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) approach. SWOT-AHP methodology was implemented in three stages: stakeholders analysis, identification of the SWOT factors, and evaluation of the SWOT factors. Strategic factors were evaluated using the outcomes of a questionnaire administered to five groups of stakeholders (public administrations, NGO and associations, academia, farmers, and forest-wood chain actors). The results showed a firm prevalence for the strengths (33.3%) and opportunities (32.9%) over the potential threats (18.8%) and weaknesses (15%) of the actual bioenergy supply chain in Sarentino valley. SWOT-AHP methodology could be useful in the development and implementation of a local and regional participatory decision making process in the forest-wood-energy supply chain as it can provide structural and quantified analysis of the subjective preferences of the stakeholders.

IntroduzioneNel corso degli ultimi decenni, il settore bioenergetico ha ricoperto una sempre crescente importanza nella politica energetica dell'Unione Europea (UE) al fine di diminuire la dipendenza dei paesi membri dall'importazione di combustibili fossili (energy security -Egenhofer et al. 2011, Bentsen & Felby 2012, di diversificare l'offerta energetica (Moiseyev et al. it).Abstract: SWOT-AHP as an inclusive analytical tool of the forest-wood-energy chain: the case study of the Sarntal (South Tyrol). In the last years, the use of forest biomass for energy purpose is steadily increasing to tackle energy security issues and to mitigate climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gases (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere. In Italy, the new National Energy Strategy established that the renewable energy must cover 20% of gross energy demand by 2020. In order to achieve this objective the forest biomass could be of fundamental importance. In this context of increasing extraction of wood residues from forests, it is relevant to analyse two key aspects: (1) the involvement of stakeholders in the strategy for the valorization of forestwood-energy chain at local level; and (2) the potential impacts of increased forest biomass extraction on environment. This paper analyses these two aspects through the stakeholders' opinions in a case study in the Alto Adige (Sarentino valley). Stakeholders' opinions concerning the analysis of SWOT categories (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) of the bioenergy supply chain were investigated using the SWOT-AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) approach. The results show that the local stakeholders emphasize some strengths (e.g., additional income over time for private forest owners) and opportunities (e.g., development of shared forest management strategies among small forest owners) of forest-wood-energy chain, and consider less relevant the weaknesses and threats. The results concerning one of most important potential threatsimpacts on environment -show that all groups of stakeholders (public administrations, associations and NGO, research bodies and universities, and actors of rural sector) consider positive the impacts of increased forest biomass extraction on recreational activities and negative on other three ecosystem services (carbon sequestration, hydrogeological protection, and biodiversity).