Recently, the Huai'an White Horse Lake Planning, Development and Management Office and the Huai'an White Horse Lake Wetland Park Administration released the Research Report on Carbon Storage and Carbon Sink Potential of the White Horse Lake Wetland of International Importance, which provides a scientific analysis of the wetland's current carbon stock and its carbon sequestration potential.

The study shows that the White Horse Lake Wetland of International Importance has a total organic carbon stock of approximately 158,100 tons, equivalent to 579,600 tons of carbon dioxide, and an annual net carbon sequestration of 5,900 to 7,900 tons, equivalent to 22,800 to 28,800 tons of carbon dioxide (annual carbon sequestration), making it an important pillar of the region's ecological carbon sink.

The White Horse Lake Wetland of International Importance is located in Jinhu County and Hongze District, covering a total area of 2,796.10 hectares, of which approximately 2,580.19 hectares are wetland areas. It is a typical shallow, grass-dominated lake wetland on a plain.

This study combined the vegetation type method with the sample plot inventory method. Wetland vegetation types were delineated based on remote sensing imagery, and carbon storage and carbon sink potential were comprehensively assessed using field measurements and data from the literature. The results show that the wetland has an average organic carbon density of 61.26 tons of carbon per hectare. Among the carbon pools, the soil (sediment) carbon pool accounts for as much as 90.29%, serving as the core carrier of organic carbon storage; the vegetation carbon pool accounts for 9.47%; and the water body carbon pool accounts for only 0.24%. In terms of vegetation types, hygrophilous vegetation dominated by reeds makes a particularly significant contribution, with a total organic carbon stock of 72,400 tons, accounting for 45.80% of the total. It also contributes more than 81% of the annual carbon sink, with an average annual carbon sequestration of 710.29 grams of carbon per square meter, making it the primary contributor to the wetland's carbon sink.

The carbon sink potential of the White Horse Lake Wetland of International Importance reflects the direct outcomes of ecological conservation and restoration efforts.