該公(gong)園(yuan)建(jian)設定位是(shi)以(yi)東江(jiang)濕(shi)地生(sheng)態(tai)系統為核心(xin),以(yi)河流自然景(jing)觀(guan)和蘇家圍客家風文(wen)景(jing)觀(guan)為特色,以(yi)豐富的濕(shi)地文(wen)化為內涵,集濕(shi)地保護保育、濕(shi)地功能(neng)和濕(shi)地文(wen)化展(zhan)示、濕(shi)地休閑、東江(jiang)畫廊濕(shi)地景(jing)觀(guan)、濕(shi)地可持續(xu)利用(yong)示范、濕(shi)地科(ke)研(yan)、監測(ce)和宣教于一體,兼備發(fa)電、灌(guan)溉和防洪調蓄功能(neng)的國家濕(shi)地公(gong)園(yuan)。
東江(jiang)(jiang)國家濕地公園生(sheng)(sheng)態(tai)環境良好(hao),動(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)區系起源古老,珍稀動(dong)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)豐富(fu),奇花異草散布湖灣、沙洲、島(dao)嶼,構成了(le)(le)生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)資源寶庫和(he)旅游資源基調。東江(jiang)(jiang)河岸(an)由光莢含(han)羞(xiu)草(俗(su)稱:簕仔(zi)樹(shu))和(he)粉(fen)單竹為優勢(shi)種(zhong)的(de)完(wan)整連續(xu)的(de)河岸(an)林(lin),在國內的(de)河流中已很難(nan)見到完(wan)整連續(xu)的(de)河岸(an)林(lin)。粉(fen)單竹竹影搖(yao)曳,簕仔(zi)樹(shu)樹(shu)型優美,構成了(le)(le)東江(jiang)(jiang)兩岸(an)景觀秀美的(de)綠色屏障,也(ye)是(shi)野生(sheng)(sheng)生(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)遷移的(de)生(sheng)(sheng)態(tai)走廊。
東江(jiang)江(jiang)心(xin)分(fen)布著大小(xiao)形(xing)狀(zhuang)各異的(de)(de)數十個沙(sha)洲,形(xing)成(cheng)壯(zhuang)觀(guan)(guan)的(de)(de)沙(sha)洲群(qun),碧草茵茵,形(xing)成(cheng)獨(du)特的(de)(de)沙(sha)洲島嶼沙(sha)洲濕(shi)地(di)植(zhi)被景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)。置身其(qi)中,鶯飛鳥(niao)鳴,令人(ren)心(xin)曠神怡(yi),流連忘返。在這里可(ke)以坐觀(guan)(guan)江(jiang)中水禽(qin)隨波蕩(dang)漾,欣賞牛與(yu)鷺(lu)鳥(niao)碧野(ye)田(tian)間相依相傍,構成(cheng)一幅(fu)如詩如畫(hua)的(de)(de)山水畫(hua)卷,人(ren)與(yu)自(zi)然、人(ren)與(yu)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)和諧(xie)相處的(de)(de)天(tian)然佳景(jing)。沙(sha)洲上及其(qi)邊緣的(de)(de)沙(sha)灘(tan)是(shi)黿等(deng)(deng)珍(zhen)稀保護水生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)的(de)(de)良好棲(qi)息生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)境。調查表明,東江(jiang)濕(shi)地(di)公(gong)園(yuan)內有(you)(you)(you)(you)高等(deng)(deng)維(wei)管植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)356種(zhong)(zhong),水生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)豐富,形(xing)成(cheng)了多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)多(duo)樣的(de)(de)濕(shi)地(di)植(zhi)被類(lei)型(xing),包括挺(ting)水植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)落(luo)、沉水植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)落(luo)、漂浮植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)落(luo)、濕(shi)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)草甸群(qun)落(luo)等(deng)(deng)。東江(jiang)濕(shi)地(di)公(gong)園(yuan)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)資源豐富,有(you)(you)(you)(you)魚類(lei)68種(zhong)(zhong),野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)陸棲(qi)脊椎動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)137種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中兩(liang)棲(qi)類(lei)10種(zhong)(zhong),爬行類(lei)22種(zhong)(zhong),鳥(niao)類(lei)85種(zhong)(zhong),獸類(lei)20種(zhong)(zhong);列(lie)入《國(guo)家重點(dian)(dian)保護野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)名錄》的(de)(de)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)稻等(deng)(deng)國(guo)家II級(ji)(ji)保護植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong)。列(lie)為(wei)國(guo)家I級(ji)(ji)重點(dian)(dian)保護的(de)(de)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)黿、蟒蛇等(deng)(deng)2種(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)家II級(ji)(ji)重點(dian)(dian)保護的(de)(de)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)(you)(you)10種(zhong)(zhong)。還有(you)(you)(you)(you)數十株古樹名木形(xing)成(cheng)的(de)(de)古樹群(qun)。