Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Lachay National Reserve, Peru: A Qualitative Literature Review (2019–2025)

Abstract

The Lachay National Reserve (LNR) is a unique coastal fog-oasis (lomas) ecosystem whose functioning depends on the capture of atmospheric moisture. This study aimed to synthesize recent evidence on anthropogenic pressures and their reported effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services in the LNR through a systematic review with qualitative synthesis of literature published between 2019 and 2025. A total of 30 documents were analyzed, and the evidence was organized using thematic coding by pressure type, reported ecological impacts, and associated ecosystem services. The results identify unregulated tourism, overgrazing, urban expansion, and commercial activities within or surrounding the protected area as the predominant pressures. Frequently reported impacts include solid-waste accumulation, loss of vegetation cover, soil compaction, disturbance to wildlife, and habitat fragmentation, with potential implications for services such as microclimatic regulation, fog-water capture, soil conservation, and biodiversity maintenance. The findings indicate that the main challenge lies in the management of these pressures, as limitations in enforcement, weaknesses in public-use management, and gaps in environmental education are repeatedly documented. Therefore, strengthening control measures, improving solid-waste management, and enhancing land-use planning in the LNR’s area of influence are priorities to increase conservation effectiveness.