The East Bay Regional Park District is actively addressing wildfire threats despite a calmer fire season in the Bay Area. A massive fuel reduction project is underway in Anthony Chabot Regional Park, covering 365 acres of Eucalyptus forest. The primary goal is to mitigate the risk of wildfires. To achieve this, they utilize state-of-the-art machines, such as the “Harvester” and “Forwarder.”
The “Harvester” is a cutting-edge machine that efficiently removes smaller trees by slicing them at the base, stripping foliage, and converting them into uniform-sized logs, all in one go. These stripped logs are then collected by the “Forwarder” and transported to a staging area for stacking. The coordination between these machines is automated and helps keep track of the removed vegetation.
This ambitious project is supported by a $10 million direct appropriation from the State budget, emphasizing long-term solutions to wildfire threats through sustainable practices. The East Bay Regional Parks District’s efforts are not only significant but also serve as an example for other government agencies to innovate in forest management and wildfire prevention.