Peatlands have a vast potential for storing carbon as the organic substance in peatland soils is developed over millennia from dead and degraded plant remains. However, since 95% of German peatlands have been drained for agricultural and other land use, the peat soils no longer remain sealed and release immense amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Today, for Germany alone, drained peatlands emit alone more than 40M tons of CO₂e annually which corresponds to 40% of German agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions.

The Königsmoor in Schleswig-Holstein was drained in the 20th century for agricultural land use. 27.6 hectares were acquired by the Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-Holstein in order to rewet the peatlands. By removing the drainage canals and rewetting the surface, the decomposition of the peat is halted to avoid further CO₂e emissions and allows the peat to slowly recover. The debris of plants lets the peat grow by about 1 millimeter per  year. Besides providing an enormous carbon sink, peatlands are an important habitat for endangered species such as short-eared owls, herons, and moor frogs. Thus, rewetting peatlands not only avoids carbon emissions but also promotes biodiversity.