Global tree-cover loss from fires reached 160 million hectares between 2001 and 2025, while forest fires now burn more than twice as much tree cover as they did 20 years ago. Against this worsening backdrop, Bobcat says machinery can play an important role in prevention by reducing combustible vegetation before the highest-risk periods.
Mechanical clearing, carried out in line with regional forestry regulations, can remove shrubs, brushwood, stumps and other dry material that helps fires ignite and spread. It can also create reduced-vegetation strips and firebreaks around forests, homes and critical infrastructure.
Bobcat’s compact loaders and excavators can work in areas that are difficult for larger machinery to reach. Their manoeuvrability allows operators to move between trees with less impact on surrounding vegetation, while easy transport between sites can make preventive campaigns more efficient and economical.
The company offers forestry mulchers, tree cutters, stump grinders and other specialist attachments. Its quick-attach system enables one machine to handle several jobs, including brush removal, biomass clearance, ground levelling, log loading and the maintenance of access routes for emergency vehicles.
The need for year-round prevention was highlighted again in Spain in 2025. According to the European Copernicus-EFFIS system, around 336,345 hectares burned in the country during August alone. The scale of the damage reinforced calls for vegetation management and the creation of safety strips in forests and areas close to towns and villages.
Carlos Campos, Bobcat Compact Equipment District Manager for Iberia, said the machines combine the power needed for demanding forestry work with the manoeuvrability required for selective tree removal and brush clearance.
Bobcat also highlights excavator-mounted hammer and blade mulchers, which can clear ditches, shrubs and tall grass on uneven terrain. Their extended reach helps operators tackle areas inaccessible to conventional mulchers, supporting safer forests and faster access for firefighting teams.
