SARAGOZA, Spain.- Dominican Republic today marks its National Day in Saragoza’s International Exhibit as it integrates the environment and the economy while protecting and conserving the Caribbean’s diversity.

Environment minister Omar Ramirez said he laments that billions of people die every year from a lack of clean water, a reality that, in he said shows that “it isn’t only a source of life, but also a vector of diseases and disasters."

He said for that reason the Dominican Republic’s 500 rivers need protection and conservation with environment management and sustainable development.

"A State policy should have the consensus o all political parties. This country has the Caribbean region’s most important hydrographic network and one of four Latin American countries whose forest cover has grown due to Government decisions,” he said.

Dominican Republic’s pavilion displays the island vision of “simple but mainly humane and shows visitors the zone called Mother of the Waters,” the official said, in reference to the central mountain region, source of most of Hispaniola’s rivers.