The purpose is to promote and advance the knowledge and understanding of peatlands and peat in different fields of research and development.

The Society enhances professional contacts among scientific and conservation bodies engaged in the study of peat and peatlands, the peat producing and consuming industry as well as regulatory and governmental agencies.

The Society also organises conferences, workshops and excursions at both national and international level, and publishes the proceedings as well as reports of excursions and other events in its annual magazine "TELMA".

These activities are carried out by the Society's members at universities, government departments, planning bureaus and by private companies within the framework of different Commissions.

The German Peat Society is, at the same time, the German National Committee of the International Peatland Society (IPS).