Both the bark strands and straw mulches were effective in reducing soil erosion after fire, relative to the untreated control. However, because of the high decomposition rate, mulched eucalypt bark strands appears to be less useful for protecting soil than straw mulch.
Both mulches provided adequate protection from soil erosion hazards and had mostly neutral to positive effects on vegetation cover recovery and shrub height growth. Mulching particularly favoured the shrub resprouting process. Plant seedling establishment was not affected by the mulch treatments.
Mulching did not enhance the establishment of exotic species and did not alter the species community composition.
Persistence of mulch for more than two years seems is not necessary, because of the high recovery rate of vegetation in this area.
The efficacy of other woody materials on erosion control and vegetation recovery must be tested. Alternative application methods for wood-based mulches (i.e. aerial application) should be tested.