該公(gong)園建設定位是(shi)以東(dong)江濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)生態系統(tong)為(wei)核心(xin),以河(he)流自然景觀和(he)蘇(su)家圍客家風文(wen)景觀為(wei)特色(se),以豐富的(de)濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)文(wen)化為(wei)內涵(han),集濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)保護保育(yu)、濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)功(gong)能和(he)濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)文(wen)化展(zhan)示(shi)、濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)休閑、東(dong)江畫(hua)廊濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)景觀、濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)可持續利用(yong)示(shi)范(fan)、濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)科研(yan)、監測(ce)和(he)宣(xuan)教(jiao)于一體,兼(jian)備發電、灌(guan)溉和(he)防洪調蓄(xu)功(gong)能的(de)國家濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)公(gong)園。
東(dong)江國家濕(shi)地公園生(sheng)態環境良好,動植物(wu)區系起源(yuan)古老,珍稀動植物(wu)豐富,奇花異(yi)草散布(bu)湖灣(wan)、沙洲、島嶼,構成(cheng)了生(sheng)物(wu)資(zi)源(yuan)寶庫和(he)旅(lv)游資(zi)源(yuan)基調(diao)。東(dong)江河(he)(he)岸由光(guang)莢含羞草(俗稱:簕仔樹(shu))和(he)粉單(dan)竹(zhu)為優勢(shi)種的(de)完整(zheng)連續的(de)河(he)(he)岸林(lin),在國內的(de)河(he)(he)流中已很難見到(dao)完整(zheng)連續的(de)河(he)(he)岸林(lin)。粉單(dan)竹(zhu)竹(zhu)影搖(yao)曳(ye),簕仔樹(shu)樹(shu)型(xing)優美(mei),構成(cheng)了東(dong)江兩(liang)岸景觀秀(xiu)美(mei)的(de)綠色屏障,也是野生(sheng)生(sheng)物(wu)遷(qian)移的(de)生(sheng)態走(zou)廊。
東江江心分(fen)布著大小形(xing)(xing)狀各異的(de)數十個(ge)沙(sha)洲,形(xing)(xing)成壯觀的(de)沙(sha)洲群(qun)(qun),碧草(cao)茵茵,形(xing)(xing)成獨(du)特(te)的(de)沙(sha)洲島嶼沙(sha)洲濕(shi)地(di)植(zhi)被景觀。置身其(qi)中,鶯飛鳥(niao)鳴,令人(ren)心曠神(shen)怡,流連忘返。在這里可以坐觀江中水(shui)(shui)禽隨(sui)波蕩漾,欣賞牛與鷺(lu)鳥(niao)碧野(ye)田間相依相傍,構成一幅如(ru)詩如(ru)畫(hua)的(de)山水(shui)(shui)畫(hua)卷,人(ren)與自然、人(ren)與動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)和(he)諧相處(chu)的(de)天然佳景。沙(sha)洲上及其(qi)邊(bian)緣的(de)沙(sha)灘(tan)是(shi)黿等(deng)(deng)珍稀保(bao)(bao)護(hu)水(shui)(shui)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)的(de)良好棲息生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)境。調查表明,東江濕(shi)地(di)公(gong)園內有(you)高(gao)等(deng)(deng)維管(guan)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)356種(zhong),水(shui)(shui)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)豐(feng)(feng)富(fu),形(xing)(xing)成了多(duo)種(zhong)多(duo)樣的(de)濕(shi)地(di)植(zhi)被類(lei)(lei)型,包括挺水(shui)(shui)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)(qun)落、沉(chen)水(shui)(shui)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)(qun)落、漂浮植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)(qun)落、濕(shi)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)草(cao)甸群(qun)(qun)落等(deng)(deng)。東江濕(shi)地(di)公(gong)園野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)資源(yuan)豐(feng)(feng)富(fu),有(you)魚類(lei)(lei)68種(zhong),野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)陸棲脊椎動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)137種(zhong),其(qi)中兩棲類(lei)(lei)10種(zhong),爬行類(lei)(lei)22種(zhong),鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)85種(zhong),獸類(lei)(lei)20種(zhong);列入(ru)《國家(jia)重點(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)名錄》的(de)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)2種(zhong),其(qi)中野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)稻等(deng)(deng)國家(jia)II級(ji)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)2種(zhong)。列為國家(jia)I級(ji)重點(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)黿、蟒蛇(she)等(deng)(deng)2種(zhong),國家(jia)II級(ji)重點(dian)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)的(de)野(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)10種(zhong)。還有(you)數十株古(gu)樹(shu)名木形(xing)(xing)成的(de)古(gu)樹(shu)群(qun)(qun)。