The need of the hour is to conserve forests as "we are at the crossroads of ecological history", said Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh, Governor of Assam at a function on the eve of Van Mahotsav at Raj Bhawan. Sri Singh said the need for conserving the forests and extending the green cover to more areas has been necessitated following rapid industrialisation coupled with burgeoning population leading to alarming pollution, drastic changes in weather conditions and human nature conflict. Any further deteriration might lead ot a point of no return, he warned.