廣東(dong)乳源南水(shui)湖國家(jia)濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)公園位于(yu)縣境內(nei)的(de)西南部,地(di)(di)(di)理概貌(mao)為由南向北呈狹長(chang)型廊道走向,大致范(fan)圍包(bao)括南水(shui)湖環湖公路及其(qi)周邊第一層山脊(ji)集水(shui)面。整個(ge)濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)公園東(dong)西垂直(zhi)長(chang)約為10.0公里,南北垂直(zhi)寬約為18.7公里,規劃總面積(ji)為6283.7公頃,以河流(liu)濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)、湖泊濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)、沼(zhao)澤濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)和(he)(he)森(sen)林組成的(de)復合濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)生(sheng)態(tai)系統為主體,在中國具(ju)有(you)(you)一定的(de)典型性(xing)和(he)(he)代表性(xing),并且(qie)在水(shui)資(zi)源保護、濕(shi)(shi)地(di)(di)(di)學(xue)、生(sheng)態(tai)學(xue)、生(sheng)物(wu)學(xue)、地(di)(di)(di)學(xue)等方面均具(ju)有(you)(you)較高的(de)科學(xue)價值。
南水湖濕地是廣東(dong)北部的重要生(sheng)態屏(ping)障,植(zhi)被類型多樣,物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)豐(feng)富,共(gong)有植(zhi)物(wu)2400多種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)國(guo)家(jia)級(ji)珍稀保(bao)護(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)35種(zhong)(zhong);野生(sheng)脊(ji)椎動物(wu)438種(zhong)(zhong),非脊(ji)椎動物(wu)有3000種(zhong)(zhong)以上,其(qi)中(zhong)有國(guo)家(jia)級(ji)保(bao)護(hu)動物(wu)34種(zhong)(zhong)。
南(nan)水湖濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)公園管(guan)理處(chu)的成立(li),有利于(yu)(yu)更(geng)好地(di)(di)(di)保護南(nan)水湖優良的水質和(he)(he)充足的水量,有利于(yu)(yu)更(geng)好地(di)(di)(di)保護南(nan)水湖的濕(shi)地(di)(di)(di)資源及生物多(duo)樣性,保證珠江流域和(he)(he)粵北地(di)(di)(di)區的生態安全(quan),保障珠江流域整體生態安全(quan)和(he)(he)生物多(duo)樣性。