Participating in the debate on grants of Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has said that forests are life line for the humans but in our state rate of depletion and degradation is increasing very fast. This trend if not arrested, will prove disastrous for our fragile environment. The encroachment in forest areas has created a serious problem and water lands are also being encroached upon indiscriminately. Thereby water bodies are shrinking and no serious effort has been made sofar to protect these water bodies. Many old species are getting extinguished and wildlife is pushed to the wall. He urged upon the authorities to revisit the policies laid down and evaluate their impact by incorporating suggestions of experts in respective fields. The massive vandalization of forests and illegal timber mafia need to be dealt with firmly.He further stressed that demarcation of all forest lands must be taken on priority so that further encroachment is stopped. The programmes like compensation, afforestation and management planning fund must be reviewed and it must be ensured that these funds are strictly used for afforestation. The forest policy of 2001 needs to be revised keeping in view the new dimensions which have emerged post September 2014 floods. (KNS)