Nature conservation areas (Naturschutzgebiete) are defined in Section 23 (1) of Germany's Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) as "areas designated on a legally binding basis as areas requiring special protection with regard to nature and landscape as a whole or with regard to components thereof:

Most nature conservation areas are designated by authorities in charge of nature conservation at regional government level, although some are created by state (Länder) or local government-level authorities. Their charter takes the form of an order (Erlass or Verordnung) issued under delegated legislative powers. Within such areas, regional planning is required to give priority to nature conservation. Along with national parks, they make up a considerable share of the land area dedicated to maintaining biodiversity in Germany.

Many nature conservation areas continue to be affected by land use. Uses include forms of recreation, forestry and farming, use of water resources, and transport. The conservation objectives set out in the official order creating a nature conservation area can therefore restrict or ban certain forms of land use or lay down other requirements.

The following references contain mostly current lists and descriptions of nature conservation areas in large regions of Germany:

How well a nature conservation area can fulfil its protection purpose largely depends on its size. Being insular and having a large perimeter-to-area ratio, small conservation areas are more open to outside influence than large ones and are often less well preserved as a result. Designation of nature conservation areas in hill and mountain country takes place on a more small-scale, selective basis than in the north German lowlands, where nature conservation areas tend to be larger.