Evaluation of two emergency treatments for reducing post-fire runoff and sediment losses

Portugal suffers every year the effects of wildfires, including an increasing superficial runoff and erosion in affected areas. Post-fire stabilization treatments with mulching have been referred by several authors as one of the best techniques to relieve these impacts. This study evaluates the effectiveness of two treatments in reducing overland flow and erosion in a burned eucalyptus forest in northern central Portugal, at a microplot scale (0.24m2). After the first year, which had an average annual precipitation of 1442 mm, the treatment with chopped bark “mulching”, reduced runoff in 55% and sediment loss in 90%. The treatment with anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), reduced runoff in 20% but was not effective in reducing sediment losses. Plot position on the slope proved to be an important factor in the hydrological and erosive response of burned eucalypt areas.