The proposed amendments to the Forest Ordinance, which would endanger nearly 200 proposed forest reserves, came under protest from the Young Zoologist Association (YZA) recently. The Association alleged a direct connection between the proposed amendment and government's reconsideration of the American Tropical Forest Act (ATFA). President of the YZA, Pubudu Weerarathne said the amendments proposed to the articles 19, 20 and 21 of the ordinance would make these forest lands vulnerable to poaching, mineral extraction and grazing.