<p>Due to unsustainable exploitation of natural resources in order to satisfy the increased needs of modern societies, humanity has provoked adverse consequences on the environment. Despite global initiatives to mitigate such impacts, climate change, biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation continue to evolve, posing serious threats to species as well as to communities. United Nations pursuing a more sustainable world issued the 2030 Agenda for “Sustainable Development”. The recent zoonotic disease of COVID-19 emerged to remind among others that further actions need to be taken, so that societies will redefine current modus operandi and shift developmental practices to more sustainable – humanistic models. In this context, Protected Areas (PAs) can play a crucial role to assist in further halting the loss of biodiversity and deal with climate change impacts. However, a debate emerges on whether PAs benefit or harm local communities and various surveys have been held applying different and to some extent not comparable methodologies. This survey assessed the literature and inferred some implications on methodological notes concerning the formulation of objective, cost – effective and functional surveys. To this direction, it is worth initiating a survey using comparative case studies in order to strengthen the inferences and draw insights as to the causal relationships between PAs designation and accrued costs and benefits. Both qualitative and quantitative data should be gathered during primary research using broadly accepted methods evolved by relevant organizations. Tourism constitutes the key driver of local economic and social development. However, surveys should hold social assessments in order to check for fair distribution of the potential benefits.</p>