該(gai)公園建設定(ding)位(wei)是(shi)以(yi)東江濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)生態系(xi)統為(wei)核心,以(yi)河流自然景(jing)(jing)觀和蘇家圍客家風文(wen)景(jing)(jing)觀為(wei)特色,以(yi)豐(feng)富的濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)文(wen)化(hua)為(wei)內(nei)涵,集濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)保(bao)護保(bao)育、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)功能和濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)文(wen)化(hua)展示(shi)、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)休(xiu)閑、東江畫(hua)廊濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)景(jing)(jing)觀、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)可(ke)持續(xu)利用(yong)示(shi)范(fan)、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)科研(yan)、監(jian)測和宣教于(yu)一體,兼備發電、灌(guan)溉(gai)和防洪調(diao)蓄功能的國家濕(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)公園。
東江(jiang)國(guo)(guo)家濕地公園生(sheng)態環境良好(hao),動植物區系(xi)起源(yuan)古老(lao),珍稀動植物豐富,奇(qi)花異草(cao)散布(bu)湖灣、沙洲、島嶼,構成了生(sheng)物資源(yuan)寶庫和旅游資源(yuan)基調。東江(jiang)河岸(an)由(you)光莢含羞草(cao)(俗稱:簕(le)仔樹(shu))和粉(fen)單竹為優(you)(you)勢種的(de)完整(zheng)連(lian)續(xu)(xu)的(de)河岸(an)林,在國(guo)(guo)內的(de)河流中已很(hen)難(nan)見到完整(zheng)連(lian)續(xu)(xu)的(de)河岸(an)林。粉(fen)單竹竹影搖(yao)曳,簕(le)仔樹(shu)樹(shu)型優(you)(you)美,構成了東江(jiang)兩岸(an)景(jing)觀秀美的(de)綠色(se)屏障,也是野生(sheng)生(sheng)物遷移的(de)生(sheng)態走(zou)廊。
東(dong)江(jiang)江(jiang)心(xin)分布著大小形(xing)狀各異的(de)(de)數十(shi)個沙(sha)洲,形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)壯觀的(de)(de)沙(sha)洲群(qun),碧草(cao)茵茵,形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)獨特的(de)(de)沙(sha)洲島嶼沙(sha)洲濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)被景(jing)觀。置(zhi)身其(qi)中,鶯(ying)飛鳥(niao)鳴,令人心(xin)曠(kuang)神怡(yi),流連(lian)忘返。在這里可以坐觀江(jiang)中水(shui)(shui)禽(qin)隨波蕩漾(yang),欣賞牛與(yu)鷺鳥(niao)碧野(ye)(ye)田間相(xiang)依相(xiang)傍(bang),構成(cheng)(cheng)一(yi)幅(fu)如詩如畫(hua)的(de)(de)山水(shui)(shui)畫(hua)卷,人與(yu)自然、人與(yu)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)和諧相(xiang)處的(de)(de)天然佳景(jing)。沙(sha)洲上及其(qi)邊(bian)緣(yuan)的(de)(de)沙(sha)灘是黿等(deng)(deng)珍稀保(bao)護(hu)水(shui)(shui)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)的(de)(de)良好棲(qi)息生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)境。調查表明(ming),東(dong)江(jiang)濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)公(gong)園內有(you)(you)高等(deng)(deng)維管植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)356種(zhong)(zhong),水(shui)(shui)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)豐富,形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)了多種(zhong)(zhong)多樣的(de)(de)濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)被類(lei)型(xing),包(bao)括挺(ting)水(shui)(shui)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)群(qun)落(luo)(luo)(luo)、沉(chen)水(shui)(shui)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)群(qun)落(luo)(luo)(luo)、漂浮(fu)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)群(qun)落(luo)(luo)(luo)、濕(shi)(shi)(shi)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)草(cao)甸群(qun)落(luo)(luo)(luo)等(deng)(deng)。東(dong)江(jiang)濕(shi)(shi)(shi)地(di)公(gong)園野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)資源豐富,有(you)(you)魚類(lei)68種(zhong)(zhong),野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)陸棲(qi)脊椎動(dong)物(wu)(wu)137種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中兩棲(qi)類(lei)10種(zhong)(zhong),爬行類(lei)22種(zhong)(zhong),鳥(niao)類(lei)85種(zhong)(zhong),獸類(lei)20種(zhong)(zhong);列入(ru)《國家重點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)名錄》的(de)(de)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)稻等(deng)(deng)國家II級(ji)保(bao)護(hu)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong)。列為國家I級(ji)重點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)黿、蟒蛇等(deng)(deng)2種(zhong)(zhong),國家II級(ji)重點(dian)保(bao)護(hu)的(de)(de)野(ye)(ye)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)10種(zhong)(zhong)。還(huan)有(you)(you)數十(shi)株古(gu)樹(shu)名木形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)古(gu)樹(shu)群(qun)。