<h1>Study finds falling forest carbon and photosynthetic efficiency despite cropland greening, urging stronger forest protection and governance reforms</h1> A national research study finds declining forest photosynthetic efficiency and carbon stocks despite increased greening in croplands, highlighting heightened legal and regulatory risks for land-use planning, forestry permits, mining and development approvals, and climate compliance. The findings suggest potential need to strengthen statutory forest protection, enforcement of environmental impact assessments, safeguards for forest-dependent communities, and measures to prevent unlawful deforestation and degradation. Regulators and policymakers may face pressure to revise forest governance, afforestation/plantation policies, carbon accounting rules and climate action plans to meet net-zero commitments and avoid liability from biodiversity loss, diminished ecosystem services and noncompliance with domestic and international obligations.