廣東(dong)(dong)乳(ru)源南(nan)(nan)水(shui)湖國家濕(shi)地(di)(di)公(gong)(gong)園位于縣境(jing)內的(de)西南(nan)(nan)部,地(di)(di)理概貌為(wei)(wei)(wei)由南(nan)(nan)向北呈狹長(chang)型(xing)廊(lang)道(dao)走向,大致范圍包括南(nan)(nan)水(shui)湖環湖公(gong)(gong)路(lu)及其周邊第(di)一層山脊(ji)集(ji)水(shui)面。整個濕(shi)地(di)(di)公(gong)(gong)園東(dong)(dong)西垂直長(chang)約為(wei)(wei)(wei)10.0公(gong)(gong)里,南(nan)(nan)北垂直寬約為(wei)(wei)(wei)18.7公(gong)(gong)里,規劃總面積為(wei)(wei)(wei)6283.7公(gong)(gong)頃,以河流濕(shi)地(di)(di)、湖泊濕(shi)地(di)(di)、沼澤濕(shi)地(di)(di)和(he)(he)森林組成的(de)復合濕(shi)地(di)(di)生(sheng)態系統為(wei)(wei)(wei)主體,在中(zhong)國具有一定的(de)典型(xing)性和(he)(he)代表性,并且在水(shui)資(zi)源保護(hu)、濕(shi)地(di)(di)學(xue)、生(sheng)態學(xue)、生(sheng)物學(xue)、地(di)(di)學(xue)等方面均具有較高的(de)科學(xue)價值。
南水湖濕(shi)地是廣東北部(bu)的(de)重要(yao)生(sheng)態屏障,植被類型多樣(yang),物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)豐富,共(gong)有(you)植物(wu)(wu)2400多種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中國(guo)家級珍稀保護植物(wu)(wu)35種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);野生(sheng)脊(ji)椎動物(wu)(wu)438種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),非(fei)脊(ji)椎動物(wu)(wu)有(you)3000種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)以上,其中有(you)國(guo)家級保護動物(wu)(wu)34種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
南水湖濕地(di)公園管理處的成立(li),有利(li)于更(geng)好地(di)保護南水湖優良的水質和(he)(he)充(chong)足的水量(liang),有利(li)于更(geng)好地(di)保護南水湖的濕地(di)資源及生(sheng)物多樣(yang)(yang)性,保證珠江(jiang)流(liu)域和(he)(he)粵(yue)北地(di)區的生(sheng)態安全,保障珠江(jiang)流(liu)域整體(ti)生(sheng)態安全和(he)(he)生(sheng)物多樣(yang)(yang)性。