Protected areas have been at the forefront of global conservation efforts. They define the boundaries of critical ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots. However, a variety of different terminologies and special regulations around the status of these areas may dilute the concept and confuse the environmental practitioner. Ultimately, it may lead to harmful interventions in critical areas. Practical conservationism, when managing projects in these vulnerable areas, takes perseverance and contextual knowledge to maneuver in the nexus of different interests and actors. This article is providing some food for thought on how to find the right approach.