Nature reserves may also be placed under protection for scientific, natural history, or regional history reasons, or because they are of particular beauty, rarity, or uniqueness.

All actions that could lead to the destruction, damage, or alteration of the nature reserve or its components, or to lasting disturbance, are prohibited in accordance with more detailed provisions (Section 23 (2) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatschG)). 

This means that it is prohibited, among other things, to remove plants, catch animals, cause wilful destruction of habitats, barbecue, camp or leave the designated paths. The respective regulations provide information about the specific rules.