Abstract: The establishment of protected areas is an indispensable measure for safeguarding the ecological environment; however, in this process, the fundamental rights of original residents—particularly their property rights—are often marginalized. Current the implementation of the management policies for protected areas reveals a number of critical shortcomings. For instance, insufficient interest balancing makes it difficult to reconcile ecological conservation objectives with the livelihood and cultural needs of original residents. The lack of a robust fair compensation mechanism prevents original residents from receiving equitable compensation when their property rights are impaired or taken. The absence of due legal process deprives original residents of meaningful participation in policymaking and effective channels for expressing grievances or seeking redress. Moreover, inadequate risk prevention strategies hinder the ability to anticipate and mitigate potential threats to original residents' property rights. To address these challenges, it is essential to establish four fundamental legal principles: interest balancing, fair compensation, due legal process, and risk prevention. These principles aim to achieve a balanced protection of ecological integrity and the property rights of original residents. By weighing ecological goals against residents' rights, providing fair and reasonable compensation, ensuring the effectiveness of participatory and remedial mechanisms, and applying scientific risk assessment and prevention, the property rights of original residents can be effectively safeguarded, thereby advancing the dual objectives of environmental conservation and social justice. These four principles are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, forming an integrated and coherent normative structure. The principle of interest balancing offers directional guidance and normative foundations for the application of the other principles. The principle of fair compensation safeguards original residents' rights and interests. The principle of due legal process ensures procedural legitimacy and fairness in protection measures. The principle of risk prevention contributes forward-looking foresight and early-warning capacity. Together, these principles address the complex challenges inherent in the governance of protected areas and promote the harmonious coexistence and sustainable development of protected ecosystems and local communities.