The river valley peatland of the Peene river with its largely undisturbed hydrological regime is one of the largest contiguous peatland complexes of its kind in Europe. Even today it still retains a rich variety of natural and near-natural habitats. The Peene valley represents typical habitat types of the North German lowland and is home to a number of specially protected animal and plant species in danger of extinction: Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra), European beaver (Castor fiber), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), Eurasian crane (Grus grus), the shrub birch (Betula humilis), globeflower (Trollius europaeus), bird's-eye primrose (Primula farinosa), marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe), various orchid species, etc. 

Threats arise due to inadequate water quality in the Peene river and through intensification of agriculture and land improvement measures carried out in recent years, which threaten the peat layer particularly severely; sporadic instances of bog subsidence have already occurred. The principal project objectives are the conservation and safeguarding of the Peene river as a largely unimpeded lowland river unregulated by impounding, preservation of the peatland complexes or stimulation of bog growth in disturbed areas, restoration of the natural water regime on drained and poldered sites, extensification of agricultural land use and the management of tourism and leisure activities.