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Bobcat prove wildfire prevention capabilities

Between 2001 and 2025, an estimated 160 million hectares of tree cover were lost to wildfires worldwide. Recent figures show that forests are now burning at more than twice the rate seen 20 years ago, with climate change widely recognised as a major contributing factor. As a result, preventative land management and the use of suitable machinery are becoming increasingly important in reducing wildfire risk.

Managing vegetation before peak fire seasons is widely regarded as one of the most effective ways of limiting the spread of fires. Mechanical clearing programmes, carried out in line with regional forestry regulations, help reduce combustible material and create firebreaks that can slow or prevent the spread of flames.

Bobcat's range of compact equipment and specialist attachments is designed to support these tasks. Forestry mulchers, tree cutters and stump grinders enable operators to remove brush, shrubs, stumps and dry vegetation, while compact loaders and excavators can work efficiently in confined or difficult to access areas where larger machines may struggle. Their manoeuvrability also allows operators to work between established trees while minimising disturbance to surrounding vegetation, and the machines can be transported easily between sites without the need for specialist haulage in many cases.

In Spain, where severe wildfires continue to affect large areas of countryside, preventative vegetation management has become increasingly important. According to the European Copernicus EFFIS system, around 336,345 hectares were affected by wildfires during August 2025 alone, with Galicia, Castile and Extremadura among the hardest-hit regions. Forestry experts continue to stress the importance of year-round land clearance and the creation of safety corridors around forests and rural communities.

Carlos Campos, Bobcat Compact Equipment District Manager, Iberia, said: "Bobcat equipment and forestry applications are the perfect combination for this work. Thanks to the solutions we offer, effective forest management becomes easier. From land clearing to brush removal, log loading and planting new trees, Bobcat machines and attachments adapt comfortably to all types of forestry tasks. Our machines are capable of the most demanding jobs, while remaining manoeuvrable enough for selective tree removal or brush clearing."

Bobcat's quick-attach system allows operators to swap between a wide range of forestry attachments, enabling a single machine to carry out multiple tasks. The range includes forestry cutters, flail mowers and mulchers, while excavators can also be equipped with hammer or blade mulchers for working on embankments, ditches and other hard to reach areas.

Campos added: "The forestry cutter is the most robust and powerful solution available. It can operate in both high-flow and Super-Flow modes to perfectly match Bobcat equipment and harness its full power, delivering the best results when working alongside a tracked loader. As for the forestry mulcher, also known as a flail mower, it is ideal for cutting brush. It adjusts to follow the contour of the surface and is a perfect solution for working with both wheeled and tracked loaders. This attachment features a variable-displacement hydraulic motor, allowing the mulcher to adapt to the carrier machine.

"Another solution worth considering is the combination of our excavators with hammer or blade mulchers equipped with auto-levelling, which allows vegetation to be cleared on any terrain, including ditches, as well as removing shrubs and tall grass from neglected areas. With the help of the excavator arm, the hammer mulcher can reach places other mulchers cannot. A distinctive feature of the Bobcat solution is that the mulcher can be used while moving the carrier excavator—something competitors cannot offer."