Santo Domingo.- The climate in destroying the country’s wetlands and coral reefs, while brackish water ravages the east region’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity, threatening Dominican Republic’s beach tourism.

The statement d was made yesterday by Omar Ramirez, head of the National Climate Change Council and Clean Development Mechanism, after starting the consultation process to design the national climate change policy aimed at reducing the country's vulnerability to natural phenomenon.

Ramirez said environmental destruction needs to be avoided in tourism, agriculture and water, which he affirms are the three strategic pillars of the nation’s economic growth.

For Jeffrey Lizardo, director of the Economy Ministry’s  Economic and Social Development Dept., said the environment is the fourth National Strategic Development axis, which poses an "adequate adaptation to climate change and specifically reduced vulnerability, progress in adapting to the impacts of climate change and contribute to the mitigation of its causes."