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Here’s how LA County plans to spend your tax dollars on homelessness – LAist

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.
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A few months after voters approved higher taxes to combat homelessness, Los Angeles County officials have proposed cutting $62 million from the homeless services budget by slashing several programs.
The spending proposal from the L.A. County Homeless Initiative recommends major cuts to a job training program and one that helps qualified applicants clear their criminal records, according to budget documents. The Homeless Initiative is also recommending eliminating county funding for homelessness prevention programs administered by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, known as LAHSA.
County officials said the proposal reflects a projected budget deficit of $35 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and another $27 million in cost increases.
“We have been forced to make some really difficult recommendations,” said Cheri Todoroff, executive director of the Homeless Initiative. “We prioritized the services that are directly touching people — so, the outreach, the beds and the permanent housing.”
The elimination of county homelessness prevention funding for LAHSA reflects a shift in how the county plans to do prevention work under Measure A, approved by voters in November.
Instead of LAHSA primarily overseeing efforts to provide short-term rental assistance and legal help to keep people in their homes, homelessness prevention could be led by a brand new county affordable housing agency funded by the sales tax, according to Measure A proponents.
“When voters approved Measure A, they were not just approving critical local dollars,” said Tommy Newman, vice president of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “They were also approving a whole new approach to preventing homelessness, to making housing more affordable.”
As L.A. County works to finalize its $637 million homeless services budget, it’s inviting the public to weigh in on the spending plan.
Measure A will essentially double L.A. County’s revenue for homelessness by replacing a quarter-cent sales tax with a half-cent sales tax. Starting April 1, this new tax is expected to generate more than $1 billion annually, which will be split two ways:

This split explains why officials remain optimistic in light of the proposed budget cuts to some homeless services. Some of the reduced or eliminated programs would have their functions taken over by the affordable housing agency.
“I would look at this budget as very much a transition year budget,” said Newman. “So that’s why when I see some of these curtailments, I sort of put an asterisk on them, because we’ve got a whole lot of other stuff going on here.”

Despite the influx of Measure A dollars, county authorities said the L.A. County Homeless Initiative had to make about $62 million in reductions to its budget for homeless services for the coming year.
“It is very, very hard, and I’m not saying that we’re going to be able to do everything we’ve done before with less funding,” Todoroff said. “Some things will be impacted.”
That’s partially because consumer spending slowed over the last year across L.A. County, leading to slightly less sales tax revenue, county officials said. It’s also because the county boosted funding for services for about 2,000 additional people moving into newly-constructed supportive housing between the current budget year and the upcoming one — an additional cost of about $27 million.
The county is responsible for funding services at permanent supportive housing units.
“That’s a good thing because that means that we’ve been building supportive housing across the county, and it’s coming online,” Newman said.
More than 80% of L.A. County’s traditional homelessness funding will go toward housing during the next fiscal year, according to the Homeless Initiative’s funding proposal. That includes interim housing, permanent supportive housing and housing acquisition.
The L.A. County Homeless Initiative recommended slashing funding for the LA:RISE program — which helps homeless Angelenos get and keep jobs, from $8.4 million in fiscal year 2024-25 to about $1.8 million in the coming fiscal year that starts in July.
Administrators of that workforce development program said they were “deeply alarmed and disheartened by the budget recommendations.”
“Following the landmark passage of the Measure A ballot initiative and an increase in revenue for the county, it is shocking that less than 0.3% of Homeless Initiative funding is allocated toward employment and workforce development,” said Greg Ericksen, director of Government Partnerships & Policy at REDF. (The venture philanthropy organization formerly known as the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund is the lead program manager for LA:RISE.)
Ericksen said the proposed cuts will have a devastating impact on program participants as well as the social enterprises they partner with — including Downtown Women’s Center, Homeboy Industries and the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
The county also recommended cutting $1.5 million from a $3.5 million L.A. County Public Defender’s Office program that does mobile legal clinics to help unhoused Angelenos expunge criminal records.
Last year, the program participated in more than 200 outreach events across L.A. County, filed nearly 3,500 expungement petitions and provided direct support to more than 1,400 people who were unhoused or housing insecure, according to the Public Defender’s Office.
As a result of the proposed budget cuts, the program’s outreach staff will be downsized by one-third, according to assistant public defender Thomas Moore.
“We will continue our community engagement, but the staff reduction will result in less participation at community events and resource fairs,” Moore said.
As a result of the county’s recommendations, Moore also said the Public Defender’s partnership with the city of Los Angeles — to help clients clear tickets and misdemeanors — will be eliminated.

The Homelessness Initiative’s draft budget pulls $10 million in funding for LAHSA’s case management system, which helps hundreds of providers work together to match thousands of unhoused Angelenos with services and housing.
But that doesn’t mean coordination will go away, Newman said.
“This is not fully defunding coordination, but it is acknowledging that we need to keep doing a better job of understanding what’s the most effective way to coordinate,” he said.
The county’s proposed $20 million cut to prevention programs administered by LAHSA means the agency will drastically scale back efforts to provide short-term rental assistance and legal assistance to help keep people in their homes.
But county officials say that’s where new investments in the new L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency come in. The new agency is required to spend 30% of its resources (about $100 million in the coming year) on prevention, including eviction legal services, rental assistance and relocation assistance.
“There’s going to be a really significant increase in homelessness prevention funding from [the L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency], and so it makes sense that there’s a little bit of a rebalancing going on,” Newman said.
A LAHSA spokesperson did not comment on the county’s specific funding recommendations but said the agency is keeping a close eye on the budget process.
The Homeless Initiative is considering feedback on its proposed budget until Tuesday, Feb. 4.

The Homeless Initiative is expected to present its funding plan to the county Board of Supervisors in March.
The Homeless Initiative will consider feedback on its proposed budget in the coming days. The window for public comment is open until Tuesday, Feb. 4, at this link.
The detailed spending recommendations are available for review here.
“If there’s something that is not included in the funding recommendations that should be elevated above things that are, we want to hear about that,” Todoroff said. “We are all collectively impacted by what is funded and what is not funded, and so we want to hear from as many of you as possible.”
LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

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Climate Change: Is It The Greatest Crisis Or A Global Deception – Forbes

A city showing the effect of Climate Change
Climate change as defined by the United Nations refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Consequently, it stands as one of the most pressing and debated issues of our time. While a significant majority of the scientific community attributes recent climatic shifts to human activities, a vocal minority contends that these changes are part of Earth’s natural variability. This article takes a deep dive into both perspectives, presenting scientific data and analyses to empower readers to form their own informed opinions.
Concept illustration Global warming around the world is about to be burned by human hands )
A comprehensive survey conducted by Cornell University in 2021 analyzed 88,125 climate-related studies published between 2012 and 2020. The findings revealed that over 99.9% of these peer-reviewed papers concluded that human activities are the primary drivers of recent climate change. This overwhelming consensus underscores the significant role of anthropogenic factors in altering Earth’s climate. This study updates a 2013 analysis that reported a 97% consensus, showing that skepticism within the scientific community has become nearly nonexistent. Researchers identified only 28 skeptical papers, all published in minor journals, reinforcing that any remaining public debate is not rooted in scientific literature. Despite this overwhelming agreement, surveys show that public and political opinions remain divided, with many still believing there is significant scientific uncertainty. The study underscores the urgency of recognizing greenhouse gas emissions as the principal driver of climate change to mobilize effective solutions, as extreme climate-related disasters continue to impact economies, businesses, and communities worldwide.
The Earth is now approximately 1.2°C hotter than pre-industrial levels according to NASA. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change findings indicate that that human activities, primarily fossil fuel combustion, are responsible for nearly all warming over the past 200 years. data from the US Environmental Protection Agency further corroborates that carbon dioxide levels are at their highest in 2 million years, while methane and nitrous oxide concentrations have reached levels unseen in 800,000 years. Additionally, regarding Earth’s temperature, a 2°C rise could expose over 2 billion people to extreme heat, double biodiversity losses compared to 1.5°C, slash crop yields by more than 50% in some regions, and lead to the near-total collapse of coral reefs, which support marine life and coastal economies in addition to the loss of islands due to sea level rise.
Plumes of smoke rise from chimneys at an industrial area in Greece.
UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report shows that a 42% global emissions reduction by 2030 could still limit warming to 1.5°C, requiring an annual cut of 22 billion tons through investments in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and low-carbon agriculture. Climate models, often criticized for their reliability, have consistently provided accurate projections; According to NASA, a 2020 study confirmed that 14 out of 17 models developed between 1970 and 2007 closely matched real-world temperature increases.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change research from hundreds of leading climate scientists, has determined that humans are responsible for almost all global warming observed over the past two centuries. The primary culprits are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) which release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to a warming planet.
The State of the Climate Update 2024 from the World Meteorological Organization provides undeniable evidence that climate change is accelerating at an alarming rate. The global mean surface air temperature from January to September 2024 was 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels, signaling a dangerous trend toward surpassing the 1.5°C threshold set by the Par
Earth, heat wave, Sun and high temperature environment with weather thermometer.
is Agreement. With 2024 on track to be the hottest year on record, following 2023 as the previous record-holder, the data highlights the rapid warming of our planet. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached record highs in 2023 and continued to rise in 2024, further fueling long-term temperature increases. The ocean heat content also hit unprecedented levels, absorbing around 3.1 million terawatt-hours of heat in 2023—a staggering 18 times the world’s total energy consumption—leading to rising sea levels and fueling more intense and frequent extreme weather events. Meanwhile, glacier ice loss in 2023 alone amounted to the water equivalent of five times the volume of the Dead Sea, while Antarctic and Arctic sea ice extent in 2024 remained well below average, reinforcing the alarming trend of polar ice depletion.
transformer on a electric poles and a tree laying across power lines over a road after Hurricane
Beyond the temperature records, the WMO report highlights the devastating impacts of climate change are already evident through an onslaught of extreme weather events across the globe. The world has witnessed record-breaking rainfall and flooding, intensifying tropical cyclones, deadly heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and raging wildfires, making these disasters our new normal rather than isolated anomalies. The scientific consensus is clear: climate change is not a distant threat—it is happening now, and its effects are worsening. The WMO report stresses the urgent need to accelerate both mitigation and adaptation efforts, stressing that while staying well below 2°C of warming is critical, every fraction of a degree matters in reducing future risks. Encouragingly, climate service capacity has grown, with 108 countries now reporting a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, showcasing progress in adaptation strategies. However, without immediate, large-scale reductions in emissions and a global commitment to accelerating renewable energy adoption, we risk pushing the planet into an irreversible climate crisis.
While the prevailing scientific consensus and evidence attributes modern climate change to human activity, some analysts argue that Earth’s climate has always undergone natural fluctuations and that recent changes are within the bounds of historical variability. They have concluded that factors such as solar activity, oceanic cycles, and geological events play significant roles in shaping the climate.
One of the primary arguments for natural climate variability is the role of the sun. According to a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, solar activity has exhibited cycles of highs and lows, influencing Earth’s temperature patterns for millennia. The Maunder Minimum, a period of low solar activity from approximately 1645 to 1715, coincided with the Little Ice Age—a time when global temperatures were significantly lower than today. Climate change skeptics often suggest that current warming trends may partly result from natural solar fluctuations rather than human activities, however, the same has been debunked by NASA. Moreover, the IPCC states that both short-term and long-term fluctuations in solar activity have a minimal influence on Earth’s climate, based on current scientific understanding. IPCC also indicate that the warming observed over the last century is unprecedented in terms of the rate of change, as it far surpasses natural variations in the past few thousand years.
Another point often raised by skeptics is the historical precedent of warming and cooling periods before industrialization. According researcher Don Easterbrook, Earth experienced the Medieval Warm Period (900-1300 AD), during which temperatures were comparable to or even exceeded modern levels in some regions. This period was followed by the Little Ice Age, further supporting the notion that climate shifts can occur naturally over time. However IPCC research indicates that show that globally averaged temperatures during the MWP were likely cooler than current temperatures. In fact, the MWP was not as globally widespread or as warm as contemporary temperatures.
ocean wave during storm in the atlantic ocean
Additionally, oceanic cycles such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation have been shown to influence global temperatures. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these oceanic patterns contribute to multi-decade temperature fluctuations that can amplify or dampen warming trends. Some climate skeptics argue that observed warming trends may be part of a natural cycle influenced by these oceanic changes. However Carbon Brief indicated that the global warming witnessed over the past 150 years matches nearly perfectly what is expected from greenhouse gas emissions and other human activity when the statistical models are used.
Finally, critics highlight inconsistencies in climate models, arguing that they often struggle to predict long-term temperature changes with precision. However According to a study accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters, a team led by Zeke Hausfather evaluated 17 climate model projections and found that 10 closely matched actual global temperature observations, with the number increasing to 14 after accounting for factors like atmospheric carbon dioxide. The study’s findings, which showed no consistent overestimation or underestimation of warming, help bolster confidence in the accuracy of both past and current climate models.
The debate over the causes of climate change encompasses both human-induced factors and natural variability. Hence while natural climate variability plays a role in Earth’s climate dynamics, the rapid rate of current warming, strongly correlated with increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, underscores the need for urgent attention. The unprecedented rise in global temperatures, coupled with the highest carbon dioxide levels in 2 million years, highlights a significant departure from natural climate cycles, emphasizing the dominant role of human influence and reinforcing the importance of implementing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.

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Big 12 Conference Set To Release 2025 Football Schedule – KSL Sports

NCAA
Jan 31, 2025, 4:25 PM | Updated: 4:26 pm

BY MITCH HARPER
KSL Sports
SALT LAKE CITY— The 2025 Big 12 football schedule will be released next week.
Big 12 Conference announced on Friday that the 2025 schedule will be unveiled on Tuesday, February 4, at 9 a.m. (MST)/11 a.m. (EST).
How does Tuesday at 11am ET sound?
🏈📆 #Big12FB
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) January 31, 2025

The opponents are known for all 16 of the programs in the Big 12. What remains unknown is how the dates will stack up for the games.
On Tuesday, we will learn the schedules for BYU, Utah, and the other Big 12 football programs.
The 2025 season will be the second year of the 16-team era of the conference.
Last year, Arizona State, who was picked by the media to finish in 16th place in the preseason, won the conference and played in the College Football Playoff.
Along with the Sun Devils, BYU, Iowa State, and Colorado were Big 12 teams who finished ranked in the final AP Top 25 poll last year.
Every conference team will play nine league games.
BYU will play four games at LaVell Edwards Stadium while going on the road for five league matchups. Utah has the opposite, with five at Rice-Eccles Stadium and four away from home, which includes a trip to Provo to take on rival BYU.
Like last season, every team in college football next year will have two bye weeks. That’s due to week one kicking off in August.
The Big 12 projects to be another wide-open league race in 2025.
BYU was picked No. 1 in the KSL Sports Way-Too-Early Big 12 Football power rankings for the 2025 season.
Home games
Road games
Home games
Road games
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. It allows you to stream live radio and video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

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SALT LAKE CITY – The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County. Presented by Hercules First Federal Credit Union, each week we honor athletes for their exceptional performance on the gridiron. Our winners for week two were Faythe Stauffer from Riverton High […]

SALT LAKE CITY – The Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week is awarded each week to the top prep boy’s and girl’s basketball players in Utah County. Sponsored by Mr. Mac, it honors athletes for their performances on the court and exceptional play. Our winners for week two were Easton Hawkins from Lehi […]

SALT LAKE CITY – The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Northern Utah. Presented by John Watson Chevrolet in Ogden, each week we honor athletes for their exceptional performance on the gridiron. Our winners for week one of the season were Sam Romer from […]

SALT LAKE CITY – The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County. Presented by Hercules First Federal Credit Union, each week we honor athletes for their exceptional performance on the gridiron. Our winners for week one were Beckham Bayles from Cyprus High […]

SALT LAKE CITY – The Mr. Mac Utah County High School Player of the Week is awarded each week to the top prep boy’s and girl’s basketball players in Utah County. Sponsored by Mr. Mac, it honors athletes for their performances on the court and exceptional play. Our winners for week one were Jaxon McCuistion from Timpanogos […]

SALT LAKE CITY – The John Watson Northern Utah High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school football player in Northern Utah. Presented by John Watson Chevrolet in Ogden, each week we honor athletes for their exceptional performance on the gridiron. Our co-winners of the week were Beck Sheffield from Morgan High School […]

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Community coming together to support Gravette volunteer firefighter on life support – KFSM 5Newsonline

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GRAVETTE, Ark. — Tylor Shambles, a volunteer firefighter at the Gravette Fire Department and the manager of Bentonville Animal Services is described by colleagues as hard working, dedicated, and a man of service. As of Jan. 31, he’s fighting for his life in the hospital after an off-duty crash.
“He’s in critical condition. He is in the ICU on a ventilator. So very, very trying times right now, and he’s absolutely fighting for his life,” Gravette Fire Chief Travis Harp said.
In an interview with 5NEWS, Harp expressed how helpful and selfless Tylor is.
“He really likes to do this. He says it gives him a sense of pride to give back to people in their time of need,” Harp explained.
Not only does he answer the call for people in an emergency, but animals too. 
“We often teased him about being Paw Patrol. But it’s a funny turn out that he’s actually been extremely helpful on animal related calls, even if it’s a cat stuck in the tree or more severe related calls that involve animals,” Harp said. 
“He goes to the farmer’s market with animals, he’ll be at First Fridays in Bentonville. He can be seen at the dog parks, interacting with people. He has been a tireless advocate for animals,” Tylor’s animal services colleague Shannon Gabbard said.
According to those close to him, Tylor devotes most of his time to giving back to the community and his family. He was doing exactly that when the unexpected happen.
“The last call that he ran was actually another car wreck,” Harp said. “So, he was just helping somebody and then found himself in that same situation.”
“We’ve prayed for Tylor, prayed for his quick recoveries, full recovery, and that’s what all of us are hoping and wishing for,” Gabbard added.
In light of the news, his community quickly organized. The Gravette Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary is hosting a pancake breakfast on Sunday from 8 a.m. to around noon. All of the proceeds will go to Tylor and his family.
You can also donate to the Women’s Auxiliary online payment methods.
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RI Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 31, 2025 – newportri.com

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 31, 2025, results for each game:
09-28-48-56-63, Mega Ball: 02, Megaplier: 2
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
03-07-34-39-44, Lucky Ball: 13
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Midday: 1-1-1-9
Evening: 1-8-7-1
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
08-10-17-18-24, Extra: 33
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Untitled Tag Game (UTG) Codes (February 2025) – Beebom

Update: checked for new Untitled Tag Game codes on February 1, 2025
Roblox has every kind of game you can imagine! Yeah, when I say every game, I mean our favorite IRL from childhood, TAG, too. Unlike normal tag games, you have plenty of ways to move around the field with advanced mechanics in Untitled Tag Game on Roblox. The list of active Untitled Tag Game codes will give you free coins. These coins are in-game currency that helps you upgrade your arsenal of offense.

All New Untitled Tag Game Codes

Active UTG Codes

  • happyholidays: Use for 250 Coins (NEW)
  • bombplushie: Use for 250 Coins
  • roblox_rtc: Use for 500 Coins
  • sept2022: Use for 250 Coins
  • thankyou: Use for 500 Coins

Expired UTG Codes

  • karell
  • frog
  • SubtoPoliswaggs
  • Murm
  • YOCHAT
  • 4122
  • CodeUpdate!
  • TipBoard

While you wait for new codes, try out a lot of other experiences from our Roblox codes master list. If you love competing with friends in Roblox games, then you must grab the Blade Ball codes or Rivals codes and challenge your friend in 1v1.

How to Redeem Untitled Tag Game Codes

  • Launch Untitled Tag Game on Roblox.
  • Press B on your keyboard to open the shop.
  • Select the codes option from the bottom right.
  • Enter a working code and click redeem.
Redeem UTG codes option

How to Find More Untitled Tag Game Codes

To stay on top of active codes for UTG, you must bookmark this page. We check through all Discord announcements and socials of the game to find the codes. As soon as we spot a new code, we add it to our active list while checking old ones as well.
You must join the Untitled Tag Game Discord server to find more codes. On the server, look for the announcements channel and search through the messages to grab more of these freebies for the Untitled Tag Game. If you are looking for secret codes, you must follow the @untitledtaggame X account.

Why My UTG Codes Are Not Working?

Although the codes should work right away and give you rewards, sometimes the system shows an error. When you see the code not working error in UTG, you can restart Roblox to see if it fixes the problem. Otherwise, open the game from a different device and redeem the codes.
There is also a known issue in UTG where the error message pops up but rewards are still credited in your inventory. So, check your inventory once after you see the error message.

A Computer Science graduate with a passion for gaming, currently specializing in Minecraft and popular Roblox games.





 

 

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Global Study Reveals Fire Disrupts Soil Biochemical Networks – Evrim Ağacı

Fire significantly disrupts the stability of soil biogeochemistry, leading to long-lasting consequences for ecosystems worldwide, according to new research.
Global wildfires are not just catastrophic events; they are transformative forces reshaping our ecosystems, particularly through their impact on soil nutrient cycles. A recent study published in Nature Communications highlights how fire fundamentally alters the interactions between carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus—the key elements driving the health of terrestrial ecosystems. By synthesizing data from over 5,460 observations, the research indicates fire’s far-reaching impacts on soil biogeochemical balances.

Fires have long been known to influence biodiversity and ecosystem functions, yet their specific effects on soil chemistry have been vastly understudied. Zhou and colleagues reveal, through rigorous statistical analysis and modeling, the troubling reality: fire significantly decreases soil carbon, has minimal impact on total nitrogen, and increases inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus levels. These shifts disrupt the natural coupling of soil nutrients, raising concerns over long-term sustainability and ecosystem productivity.
The authors note, “Fire decouples soil biogeochemistry globally and helps to identify high-priority ecosystems where soil biogeochemistry is especially unbalanced by fire.” This decoupling, which can persist for decades, is most pronounced under severe wildfires typically exacerbated by climate change and short-sighted land management practices.
Fire regimes vary widely, with intensity and frequency playing determining roles. The study found more severe disturbances particularly damaging to colder climates and ecosystems dominated by conifer trees, where biodiversity is already under strain. Climate factors correlate closely with these responses, presenting challenges for ecosystems already vulnerable to the pressures of warming weather patterns and land-use changes.
The degradation of soil functions post-fire is specified: “Soil biogeochemistry, particularly C-related measures, are more susceptible to fire-related damage than angiosperm and arbuscular mycorrhizal ecosystems, exhibiting significantly more negative responses of soil microbial biomass.” This highlights the need for targeted ecological management strategies, as some forest types are affected more severely than others.

Importantly, the authors stress the role of prescribed fires, arguing they can be beneficial when managed correctly, minimizing larger carbon losses from wildfires. Results from the study suggest land management could lean on methods such as implementing firebreaks and vegetation mixtures to increase resilience against future shocks.
Overall, this extensive examination of soil biogeochemistry emphasizes the urgent need for informed land management practices as climate change continues to heighten wildfire risks. “Understanding the effects of fire on soil biogeochemistry of terrestrial ecosystems is increasingly relevant to our global scenarios on sustainability,” the authors conclude.
This global synthesis not only addresses significant gaps in current ecological models but redefines the narrative around fire—a once-viewed traditional destructive force now positioned as transformative with long-lasting ecological consequences. It is clear from this research: the future of our ecosystems under the specter of increased fire activity demands timely interventions and innovative ecological strategies.
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