The Junín National Reserve is located in the central Andes of Peru, in the Carhuamayo, Ondores, and Junín Districts of the Department of Junín and the Ninacaca and Vicco Districts of the Department of Pasco. The reserve is surrounded by an extensive flatland called the Bombón Plateau, and it protects an important body of water.

The vegetation of Lake Junín is typical of the puna landscape, which includes several characteristic natural vegetation communities, such as dense grasses with Andean wetlands, puna grasslands, and cattail communities along the lake shore. The best-represented and most important animal species in the reserve are birds, and there is an abundant variety of birds of different origins, interest, and management needs. Several endemic species in the area, including the Junín grebe and the Junín coot, are found there.

The objective of the Junín National Reserve is the conservation of the ecosystem in an integrated manner which preserves the flora, fauna, and scenic beauty of the lake, and promotes the social and economic development of the region through the sustainable utilization of renewable natural resources. There is a master plan for the reserve, currently being updated, which includes a zoning plan and various management programs, several of which have yet to be implemented. Currently, two full-time and five volunteer park rangers, a chief, and a professional specialist work in the park, which is inadequate for efficient operation.

Human activity in the region is predominantly in communities which support mining and agricultural activities. Agricultural products are also sold in these communities. Mining has increased small business activity, highway construction, and the opportunity for cultural exchange in the region. The lands surrounding the national reserve belong to private landholders and the farming communities established there. Local communities existed in the territory of the reserve when it was declared, and those communities retained ownership of their lands. Approximately 46,000 people live in the area around Junín National Reserve, distributed in five districts. In the interior of the area there area round 4000 inhabitants. The Junín District is the most populated, while the least populated is Vicco District.

The Junín National Reserve is an important part of a tourist circuit which includes the Huayllay National Sanctuary and Chacamarca Historic Sanctuary. Together these form the Junín Conservation Complex which has great potential for promoting tourism in the area. The low tourist flow in the zone reflects the fact that full advantage is not being taken of the area’s potential.

The performance of the Junín National Reserve depends on the coordination of various institutions. Lake Junín was declared to be in a state of emergency in 1999, leading to the formation of the Multi-sector Decentralized Commission, which later became the Chinchaycocha Environmental Performance Committee. The committee approved the Plan for Sustainable Environmental Management of the watershed, and it is charged with facilitating inter-institutional cooperation for the integrated management of the watershed (Lake Junín National Reserve, buffer zone, and its area of influence). It coordinates, monitors, evaluates, and publicly reports the progress of the plan. In order to implement the environmental management plan for the watershed, five programmatic subcommittees were formed.

The Lake Junín ecosystem has been subjected to strong pressures over the years from various activities within its zone of influence. Agriculture is sparsely developed in the area surrounding the lake due to its high elevation, however water quality studies have detected the presence of agricultural insecticides in the lake. These wash into the water from the surrounding fields and through drainage systems of major towns. This is primarily a consequence of the poor regulation of the use of these products by farmers in the region.

Several nearby towns currently have an overpopulation of livestock, and overgrazing causes the compaction of soil and the loss of the highly productive wetland environments around the lake. The presence of livestock has reduced vegetation cover, negatively affected the health of grasses, and led to the replacement of wild grass species with less desirable vegetation.

Several tributaries converge in Lake Junín carrying significant quantities of mining wastes which contain heavy metals and other substances which accumulate in the ecosystem and harm the wildlife of the lake. High concentrations of dissolved chemicals have caused the deterioration of almost one third of the lake. Mining waste also contaminates pastures when these are flooded with polluted water. Thanks to the Environmental Adequation Programs (PAMAs), the problem of mining wastes has diminished somewhat because the mining companies have begun using drainage fields and recycling wastewater. However, the terms of many of these programs have expired or companies have solicited extensions. Most bird species of the lake have suffered a dramatic decline in numbers, which is attributed to the prolonged contamination of the lake.

The traditional methods of hunting and fishing used by local hunters do not have a significant impact on wildlife populations, and the number of hunters in the lake is fairly limited. However, the capture of birds and the collection of eggs and hatchlings from nests occur both on land and on the lake. The montane guinea pig is hunted by burning of the cattail communities where it hides, which has negatively affects other species which have permanent habitats in the cattails. Closed hunting seasons are not respected by local residents, either due to ignorance or because there is no other activity which can meet their economic needs.

Cattails are extracted on a small scale, primarily as forage for livestock. Cattail communities are burned in order to encourage shoot renewal and during hunts for the montane guinea pig. Traditionally, sod is extracted in the area for use as fuel, however, the abuse of this practice generates erosion and loss of soil.

Fluctuating lake levels, regulated by the Upamayo Dam, constitute a threat to the ecosystem because waters inundate bird nesting grounds or strand fish and amphibians in dry areas, exposing them to predation. Also, this fluctuation directly affects local residents by flooding parts of their pastures for longer periods than normal. The diversion of irrigation canals, sewers, and drains from the neighboring cities and towns into the lake elevate the content of organic material, increasing the degree of eutrophication and killing many organisms.

The use of agrochemicals being used in the areas around the lake must be regulated. Farmers should be trained regarding the appropriate use of chemical products for agricultural purposes, in order to avoid water pollution. Agreements for the relocation of ranchers operating in the reserve should be promoted in order to reduce livestock populations within the protected area. Regulations for the use of grasses for grazing should be established based on the carrying capacity of the land. Strict livestock management guidelines should be enacted, and zoning regulations should be respected. Alpaca should be promoted as a gradual replacement for the cattle and sheep in the national reserve.

A more detailed study is recommended of the proposed solutions for preventing the flow of mining wastes and sediments from the San Juan River into the lake. The pollution monitoring and control plan should be strictly enforced. Mechanisms for the participation of local residents in monitoring, supervision, and environmental protection activities are needed, as well as the relevant training for these activities. In the short term, mining companies should strictly adhere to Environmental Adequation Programs (PAMA), management plans, and environmental performance systems, address past environmental damages, and participate in general monitoring activities. The Ministry of Energy and Mining should conduct periodic inspections, evaluating the progress of PAMAs, public reporting, and preventative efforts. Communities should implement local environmental monitoring systems and actively participate in the proposed environmental programs.

Periodic patrols are necessary which emphasize stricter regulations against the hunting of threatened species, particularly the Junín grebe and the Junín frog. Hunting uncommon and/or threatened species should be strictly prohibited, and zoning restrictions should be respected.

The promotion of alternative energy sources is needed to alleviate the pressure on vegetation resources in the area, and native tree species should be promoted for use in forestation projects. The local population should be encouraged to improve management of cattail communities, potentially through the production and sale of crafts, which could facilitate the sustainable management of the resource and provide a source of income for local residents.

Local municipalities within the area of the reserve should be required to treat wastewater before discharging it. Also, the development of performance instruments which permit monitoring of the environmental impacts of water storage and discharge operations in Lake Junín is necessary. Monitoring activities should be compatible with the traditional economic dynamics of local communities and the ecology of wildlife protected by the Junín National Reserve.

Scientific research regarding the natural resources of the area should be encouraged, especially with regard to threatened species. Environmental education and extension programs should be strengthened to encourage local participation and raise community awareness. Tourism should be aggressively pursued as a way to generate economic resources for the reserve and local residents.

Management plans corresponding to the activities of local communities must be completed. The performance of these plans should be integrated to ensure consistency in management objectives and policies for the area and the participation and contribution of local residents.