該公園(yuan)建設定位是(shi)以(yi)(yi)東江濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)生態(tai)系(xi)統為(wei)核心,以(yi)(yi)河流自然景觀(guan)和(he)蘇家圍客家風文景觀(guan)為(wei)特色,以(yi)(yi)豐富的濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)文化為(wei)內涵,集(ji)濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)保護保育、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)功能和(he)濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)文化展示(shi)、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)休閑、東江畫廊濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)景觀(guan)、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)可(ke)持續利用示(shi)范、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)科(ke)研、監測和(he)宣教于一體,兼備發電(dian)、灌溉(gai)和(he)防洪(hong)調(diao)蓄功能的國家濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)公園(yuan)。
東江國家濕地(di)公(gong)園生態環境良好,動(dong)植物(wu)區系(xi)起源古老(lao),珍稀動(dong)植物(wu)豐富,奇(qi)花異草(cao)散布湖灣(wan)、沙洲、島(dao)嶼(yu),構成了(le)生物(wu)資源寶庫和旅游資源基調。東江河岸由光莢含羞草(cao)(俗稱:簕仔樹)和粉單竹(zhu)為優(you)勢種的(de)(de)完(wan)整(zheng)連續的(de)(de)河岸林,在(zai)國內(nei)的(de)(de)河流中已很難見到(dao)完(wan)整(zheng)連續的(de)(de)河岸林。粉單竹(zhu)竹(zhu)影(ying)搖(yao)曳,簕仔樹樹型優(you)美(mei),構成了(le)東江兩岸景觀秀美(mei)的(de)(de)綠(lv)色(se)屏障,也是野生生物(wu)遷移的(de)(de)生態走廊。
東(dong)江江心分布著大小形狀各異的(de)數(shu)十個沙(sha)(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou),形成(cheng)壯觀的(de)沙(sha)(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou)群(qun)(qun),碧草茵茵,形成(cheng)獨特的(de)沙(sha)(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou)島嶼沙(sha)(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou)濕地(di)(di)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)被(bei)景觀。置身其(qi)(qi)中,鶯飛(fei)鳥(niao)鳴,令(ling)人(ren)心曠(kuang)神怡(yi),流(liu)連忘(wang)返。在這里可以坐(zuo)觀江中水(shui)禽隨波蕩漾,欣賞牛與鷺鳥(niao)碧野田間相(xiang)(xiang)依相(xiang)(xiang)傍,構成(cheng)一幅如(ru)詩如(ru)畫(hua)的(de)山水(shui)畫(hua)卷,人(ren)與自然、人(ren)與動(dong)(dong)物(wu)和諧相(xiang)(xiang)處的(de)天然佳景。沙(sha)(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou)上及其(qi)(qi)邊緣的(de)沙(sha)(sha)灘是黿(yuan)等珍稀保護水(shui)生(sheng)野生(sheng)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)的(de)良好棲息生(sheng)境(jing)。調查(cha)表(biao)明,東(dong)江濕地(di)(di)公園內有高(gao)等維管植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)356種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),水(shui)生(sheng)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)豐(feng)富,形成(cheng)了多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)多(duo)樣的(de)濕地(di)(di)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)被(bei)類型,包括挺水(shui)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)群(qun)(qun)落、沉(chen)水(shui)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)群(qun)(qun)落、漂浮植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)群(qun)(qun)落、濕生(sheng)草甸群(qun)(qun)落等。東(dong)江濕地(di)(di)公園野生(sheng)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)資源豐(feng)富,有魚類68種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),野生(sheng)陸棲脊(ji)椎動(dong)(dong)物(wu)137種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)(qi)中兩棲類10種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),爬行類22種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鳥(niao)類85種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),獸類20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);列(lie)入《國(guo)家(jia)(jia)重點保護野生(sheng)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)名錄》的(de)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)(qi)中野生(sheng)稻等國(guo)家(jia)(jia)II級(ji)保護植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。列(lie)為國(guo)家(jia)(jia)I級(ji)重點保護的(de)野生(sheng)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)有黿(yuan)、蟒蛇等2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)家(jia)(jia)II級(ji)重點保護的(de)野生(sheng)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)有10種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。還有數(shu)十株古樹(shu)名木形成(cheng)的(de)古樹(shu)群(qun)(qun)。