該公園(yuan)建設定位是以(yi)東(dong)江(jiang)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)生(sheng)態系(xi)統為(wei)(wei)核心,以(yi)河流自然景觀和(he)蘇家(jia)圍(wei)客家(jia)風(feng)文(wen)景觀為(wei)(wei)特色,以(yi)豐富的(de)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)文(wen)化(hua)為(wei)(wei)內涵,集(ji)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)保護保育、濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)功能和(he)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)文(wen)化(hua)展(zhan)示、濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)休閑、東(dong)江(jiang)畫(hua)廊濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)景觀、濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)可持續利用示范、濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)科研、監測和(he)宣教于一體,兼備(bei)發電、灌溉和(he)防洪調(diao)蓄(xu)功能的(de)國家(jia)濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)(di)公園(yuan)。
東江國家濕(shi)地公園生(sheng)態(tai)環(huan)境良好,動植(zhi)物區系起源(yuan)古(gu)老(lao),珍稀動植(zhi)物豐(feng)富,奇花(hua)異草散(san)布湖(hu)灣、沙洲(zhou)、島嶼(yu),構成(cheng)了(le)生(sheng)物資(zi)源(yuan)寶(bao)庫和(he)(he)旅游(you)資(zi)源(yuan)基調。東江河岸由光莢(jia)含(han)羞草(俗稱(cheng):簕(le)仔樹)和(he)(he)粉單竹為優(you)勢種的(de)(de)(de)(de)完整(zheng)(zheng)連續的(de)(de)(de)(de)河岸林,在國內(nei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)河流中已很難見到完整(zheng)(zheng)連續的(de)(de)(de)(de)河岸林。粉單竹竹影(ying)搖曳,簕(le)仔樹樹型(xing)優(you)美,構成(cheng)了(le)東江兩(liang)岸景觀(guan)秀(xiu)美的(de)(de)(de)(de)綠色屏障(zhang),也是(shi)野(ye)生(sheng)生(sheng)物遷移的(de)(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)態(tai)走廊。
東江(jiang)(jiang)江(jiang)(jiang)心(xin)分布著大(da)小形狀各異的(de)(de)數(shu)十個沙(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou),形成壯觀(guan)(guan)的(de)(de)沙(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou)群(qun)(qun)(qun),碧(bi)草茵茵,形成獨(du)特的(de)(de)沙(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou)島嶼沙(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou)濕(shi)地植(zhi)被(bei)景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)。置身其(qi)中(zhong),鶯(ying)飛(fei)鳥(niao)鳴,令(ling)人心(xin)曠神怡(yi),流連忘返。在這里可(ke)以(yi)坐觀(guan)(guan)江(jiang)(jiang)中(zhong)水(shui)禽隨(sui)波蕩漾,欣賞牛(niu)與(yu)鷺鳥(niao)碧(bi)野(ye)田間(jian)相(xiang)(xiang)依相(xiang)(xiang)傍,構(gou)成一幅如詩如畫的(de)(de)山水(shui)畫卷,人與(yu)自然(ran)、人與(yu)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)和諧相(xiang)(xiang)處的(de)(de)天然(ran)佳景(jing)。沙(sha)洲(zhou)(zhou)上(shang)及其(qi)邊緣的(de)(de)沙(sha)灘是黿等(deng)珍稀(xi)保(bao)護水(shui)生(sheng)野(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)的(de)(de)良好棲息生(sheng)境(jing)。調查表明,東江(jiang)(jiang)濕(shi)地公園(yuan)內(nei)有高等(deng)維(wei)管(guan)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)356種(zhong)(zhong),水(shui)生(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)豐(feng)富(fu),形成了(le)多種(zhong)(zhong)多樣的(de)(de)濕(shi)地植(zhi)被(bei)類(lei)(lei)型,包(bao)括挺水(shui)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)(qun)(qun)落(luo)(luo)、沉水(shui)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)(qun)(qun)落(luo)(luo)、漂浮植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)(qun)(qun)落(luo)(luo)、濕(shi)生(sheng)草甸群(qun)(qun)(qun)落(luo)(luo)等(deng)。東江(jiang)(jiang)濕(shi)地公園(yuan)野(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)資(zi)源豐(feng)富(fu),有魚類(lei)(lei)68種(zhong)(zhong),野(ye)生(sheng)陸棲脊椎動物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)137種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)兩(liang)棲類(lei)(lei)10種(zhong)(zhong),爬行(xing)類(lei)(lei)22種(zhong)(zhong),鳥(niao)類(lei)(lei)85種(zhong)(zhong),獸類(lei)(lei)20種(zhong)(zhong);列(lie)入(ru)《國(guo)(guo)家(jia)重(zhong)(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護野(ye)生(sheng)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)名錄》的(de)(de)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)野(ye)生(sheng)稻等(deng)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)II級保(bao)護植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong)。列(lie)為國(guo)(guo)家(jia)I級重(zhong)(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護的(de)(de)野(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)有黿、蟒蛇等(deng)2種(zhong)(zhong),國(guo)(guo)家(jia)II級重(zhong)(zhong)點(dian)保(bao)護的(de)(de)野(ye)生(sheng)動物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)有10種(zhong)(zhong)。還有數(shu)十株古(gu)樹(shu)名木形成的(de)(de)古(gu)樹(shu)群(qun)(qun)(qun)。