The management of protected natural areas in mountainous environments faces complex challenges, as conservation objectives must be aligned with long-standing human presence, different territorial governance structures, and evolving socio-economic dynamics. This thesis investigates how management strategies in national parks facilitate coexistence between local communities and ecosystems, and what ecological benefits emerge from these interactions. Through a comparative analysis of Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy and Sarek National Park in Sweden, the research examines how historical trajectories, governance frameworks, and cultural contexts shape contemporary conservation practices. This thesis argues that conservation outcomes in mountainous national parks are shaped not only by ecological objectives alone but instead by the capacity of governance models to mediate social and territorial realities.