該公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)建(jian)設定位是以(yi)東江濕(shi)地(di)生態系統為核心,以(yi)河流自(zi)然(ran)景(jing)觀(guan)和(he)(he)蘇家(jia)(jia)圍客家(jia)(jia)風文景(jing)觀(guan)為特色(se),以(yi)豐富的濕(shi)地(di)文化(hua)為內涵(han),集濕(shi)地(di)保(bao)護保(bao)育、濕(shi)地(di)功能和(he)(he)濕(shi)地(di)文化(hua)展示(shi)(shi)、濕(shi)地(di)休閑、東江畫廊濕(shi)地(di)景(jing)觀(guan)、濕(shi)地(di)可(ke)持續利用示(shi)(shi)范、濕(shi)地(di)科研、監測和(he)(he)宣教于(yu)一體(ti),兼備發(fa)電、灌溉和(he)(he)防洪調蓄功能的國家(jia)(jia)濕(shi)地(di)公(gong)(gong)園(yuan)。
東(dong)江國(guo)(guo)家濕(shi)地(di)公園生(sheng)態(tai)環(huan)境良(liang)好,動植物(wu)區系起(qi)源古老(lao),珍稀動植物(wu)豐富,奇(qi)花異(yi)草散布湖灣、沙洲、島嶼,構成了生(sheng)物(wu)資源寶庫和旅(lv)游資源基(ji)調。東(dong)江河(he)岸(an)由光莢含羞草(俗稱:簕仔樹(shu))和粉單(dan)竹為(wei)優(you)勢種(zhong)的(de)(de)完整(zheng)連(lian)(lian)續的(de)(de)河(he)岸(an)林(lin),在國(guo)(guo)內的(de)(de)河(he)流中(zhong)已(yi)很難(nan)見到完整(zheng)連(lian)(lian)續的(de)(de)河(he)岸(an)林(lin)。粉單(dan)竹竹影搖曳,簕仔樹(shu)樹(shu)型優(you)美(mei)(mei),構成了東(dong)江兩岸(an)景觀秀美(mei)(mei)的(de)(de)綠(lv)色(se)屏(ping)障,也是(shi)野生(sheng)生(sheng)物(wu)遷移的(de)(de)生(sheng)態(tai)走廊。
東江江心分布著大小形(xing)(xing)(xing)狀(zhuang)各(ge)異(yi)的(de)(de)數十個沙洲(zhou),形(xing)(xing)(xing)成壯觀(guan)(guan)的(de)(de)沙洲(zhou)群(qun),碧草(cao)茵(yin)茵(yin),形(xing)(xing)(xing)成獨特的(de)(de)沙洲(zhou)島嶼沙洲(zhou)濕(shi)地(di)植(zhi)(zhi)被景觀(guan)(guan)。置(zhi)身(shen)其(qi)中,鶯飛鳥(niao)鳴,令人心曠(kuang)神怡,流(liu)連忘返。在這里可以坐觀(guan)(guan)江中水(shui)(shui)禽隨(sui)波蕩漾(yang),欣(xin)賞牛(niu)與鷺鳥(niao)碧野(ye)(ye)田間相依相傍,構成一幅(fu)如(ru)詩(shi)如(ru)畫的(de)(de)山水(shui)(shui)畫卷,人與自(zi)然、人與動(dong)物和(he)諧(xie)相處(chu)的(de)(de)天然佳(jia)景。沙洲(zhou)上及其(qi)邊緣(yuan)的(de)(de)沙灘是黿等(deng)珍稀保(bao)(bao)護水(shui)(shui)生野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)物的(de)(de)良好棲息生境(jing)。調查表明,東江濕(shi)地(di)公園(yuan)內(nei)有(you)(you)(you)高等(deng)維管植(zhi)(zhi)物356種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),水(shui)(shui)生植(zhi)(zhi)物豐富(fu),形(xing)(xing)(xing)成了多種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)多樣的(de)(de)濕(shi)地(di)植(zhi)(zhi)被類(lei)型,包(bao)括挺水(shui)(shui)植(zhi)(zhi)物群(qun)落(luo)、沉水(shui)(shui)植(zhi)(zhi)物群(qun)落(luo)、漂浮(fu)植(zhi)(zhi)物群(qun)落(luo)、濕(shi)生草(cao)甸群(qun)落(luo)等(deng)。東江濕(shi)地(di)公園(yuan)野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)物資源豐富(fu),有(you)(you)(you)魚類(lei)68種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),野(ye)(ye)生陸(lu)棲脊椎動(dong)物137種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中兩棲類(lei)10種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),爬行(xing)類(lei)22種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鳥(niao)類(lei)85種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),獸類(lei)20種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);列入《國家(jia)重點保(bao)(bao)護野(ye)(ye)生植(zhi)(zhi)物名錄》的(de)(de)植(zhi)(zhi)物2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中野(ye)(ye)生稻(dao)等(deng)國家(jia)II級保(bao)(bao)護植(zhi)(zhi)物2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。列為國家(jia)I級重點保(bao)(bao)護的(de)(de)野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)物有(you)(you)(you)黿、蟒蛇(she)等(deng)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),國家(jia)II級重點保(bao)(bao)護的(de)(de)野(ye)(ye)生動(dong)物有(you)(you)(you)10種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。還有(you)(you)(you)數十株古(gu)樹(shu)名木形(xing)(xing)(xing)成的(de)(de)古(gu)樹(shu)群(qun)。