廣東乳源南(nan)(nan)水湖(hu)(hu)國(guo)家濕地(di)(di)(di)(di)公(gong)園位(wei)于縣境內(nei)的(de)(de)西(xi)南(nan)(nan)部,地(di)(di)(di)(di)理概貌為(wei)由南(nan)(nan)向北(bei)呈狹長(chang)型廊道走向,大致范圍(wei)包括南(nan)(nan)水湖(hu)(hu)環湖(hu)(hu)公(gong)路及其周(zhou)邊第一層(ceng)山脊集水面。整個濕地(di)(di)(di)(di)公(gong)園東西(xi)垂直長(chang)約為(wei)10.0公(gong)里(li),南(nan)(nan)北(bei)垂直寬約為(wei)18.7公(gong)里(li),規(gui)劃(hua)總(zong)面積為(wei)6283.7公(gong)頃,以河(he)流濕地(di)(di)(di)(di)、湖(hu)(hu)泊濕地(di)(di)(di)(di)、沼澤濕地(di)(di)(di)(di)和(he)森(sen)林(lin)組成的(de)(de)復合濕地(di)(di)(di)(di)生態系統為(wei)主體,在中國(guo)具(ju)有一定的(de)(de)典(dian)型性和(he)代表性,并(bing)且在水資(zi)源保護、濕地(di)(di)(di)(di)學(xue)、生態學(xue)、生物學(xue)、地(di)(di)(di)(di)學(xue)等(deng)方面均(jun)具(ju)有較(jiao)高的(de)(de)科學(xue)價(jia)值。
南水(shui)湖濕地(di)是廣東北部的重要生態(tai)屏障,植(zhi)被(bei)類(lei)型多樣(yang),物(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)豐富,共有(you)植(zhi)物(wu)2400多種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)國家級珍稀保護(hu)植(zhi)物(wu)35種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);野生脊(ji)(ji)椎(zhui)動物(wu)438種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),非(fei)脊(ji)(ji)椎(zhui)動物(wu)有(you)3000種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)以上,其中(zhong)有(you)國家級保護(hu)動物(wu)34種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
南(nan)(nan)(nan)水(shui)湖濕(shi)地公園管理處(chu)的(de)成立,有(you)利于更(geng)好(hao)地保(bao)護南(nan)(nan)(nan)水(shui)湖優(you)良(liang)的(de)水(shui)質和(he)充足的(de)水(shui)量,有(you)利于更(geng)好(hao)地保(bao)護南(nan)(nan)(nan)水(shui)湖的(de)濕(shi)地資源及生物多樣(yang)性(xing),保(bao)證(zheng)珠江流域和(he)粵(yue)北地區的(de)生態安(an)全(quan),保(bao)障(zhang)珠江流域整體生態安(an)全(quan)和(he)生物多樣(yang)性(xing)。