The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023 has redefined the scope of “forest land.” Discuss the changes, the constitutional challenges and the implications for India’s NDC sink target.

Introduction: The Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 2023 was notified in December 2023; India's updated NDC commits to an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes CO2-equivalent by 2030 — anchored largely in forest cover at 25.17% per ISFR 2023.

Body: First, key changes — security infrastructure within 100 km of borders, linear projects up to 10 ha, and eco-tourism and zoo facilities are exempt from prior central approval; the definition of "forest" is narrowed to recorded or notified forests. Second, the constitutional challenge — SC interim order in Ashok Kumar Sharma vs Union of India (February 2024) reinstated the Godavarman 1996 "dictionary meaning" of forest pending final adjudication. Third, NDC implications — narrow definitions risk denotifying deemed forests, eroding the sink target and contradicting FRA 2006 community forest-rights commitments.

Way forward: Implement the SC's dictionary-meaning definition, complete state-wise deemed-forest inventory within six months, and audit compensatory afforestation under CAMPA Act 2016 by 2027 under MoEFCC.