Issue 17-1, January 2025, of eco.mont examines the integration of ecomuseums into protected areas, with a focus on Italy’s Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park (Parcopan). While governance challenges persist in areas like the Golfo di Orosei and Gennargentu National Park, efforts to preserve heritage and promote tourism are steadily increasing. The rise of nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation emphasizes the need to balance conservation and sustainable use, as exemplified by trail planning challenges in Turkey’s Kaçkar Mountains. Similarly, biodiversity in China’s karst tropical rainforests and Romania’s Iron Gates Natural Park highlights the critical importance of sustainable management, with the latter noting a sharp decline in newt populations despite its overall ecological richness.