# Environmental Directorate > Cuban government agency within CITMA charged with overseeing environmental law and regulation **Wikidata**: [Q119780935](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q119780935) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/environmental-directorate ## Summary The Environmental Directorate is a Cuban government agency operating within the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA). It is charged with overseeing environmental law and regulation throughout the Republic of Cuba. ## Key Facts * **Official Name**: Environmental Directorate * **Aliases**: CITMA-DMA, DMA, Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment * **Type**: Government agency * **Parent Organization**: Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment of Cuba (CITMA) * **Jurisdiction**: Cuba * **Mandate**: Overseing environmental law and regulation * **Location**: Cuba (Sovereign state in the Caribbean Sea) * **Capital Location**: Havana * **National Independence**: December 10, 1898 * **Government System**: Communist state and unitary state * **Head of State**: President Miguel Díaz-Canel (as of April 19, 2018) * **National Area**: 109,884 square kilometers * **Population (2023)**: 10,985,974 * **Official Language**: Spanish * **Currency**: Cuban peso * **Timezone**: UTC−05:00 (America/Havana) ## FAQs **What is the Environmental Directorate?** The Environmental Directorate is a government agency in Cuba. It functions as a division of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA) and is responsible for overseeing environmental law and regulation. **Where does the Environmental Directorate operate?** The agency operates in Cuba, a sovereign state and island nation located in the Caribbean Sea. Its regulations cover the entire territory, which spans 109,884 square kilometers and includes 15 provinces and one special municipality. **Under what political system does the Environmental Directorate function?** It functions under the government of Cuba, which is organized as a communist state and unitary state. The national legislative body is the National Assembly of People's Power, and the executive body is the Council of Ministers, led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel. **What is the human and geographic context of the agency's work?** The agency oversees environmental regulation for a population of approximately 10,985,974 people (as of 2023) living across diverse geography that ranges from the Caribbean Sea (0 meters) to Pico Turquino, the highest point. The country is characterized by a tropical climate with distinct dry and wet seasons. ## Why It Matters The Environmental Directorate plays a critical role in safeguarding the natural resources of Cuba, an island nation with a high Human Development Index (0.764) and a unique ecosystem situated in the Caribbean basin. Because Cuba operates as a centralized, unitary state with a mixed economy focused on social welfare, the agency's regulatory oversight is essential for balancing economic activities with the preservation of the country's environment. The agency's work impacts the management of a territory that includes significant marine and terrestrial zones, from the Gulf of Mexico borders to the rolling plains and low mountain ranges. Furthermore, as Cuba is a member of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, the Directorate ensures that national environmental standards align with the country's international commitments and manage the environmental impact of a population of nearly 11 million people. ## Notable For * **Specialized Mandate**: It is the specific government agency charged with overseeing environmental law and regulation within Cuba. * **CITMA Integration**: It is a distinct organizational unit within the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA). * **Caribbean Jurisdiction**: It manages environmental regulations for a significant sovereign state in the Caribbean Sea. * **Centralized Governance**: It operates within a rare political system—a communist state and unitary state—allowing for centralized environmental policy implementation. ## Body ### Agency Structure and Mandate The Environmental Directorate is classified as a government agency. It operates as a component of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment of Cuba (commonly referred to as CITMA). The agency is also known by the abbreviations CITMA-DMA and DMA. Its primary function is to oversee and implement environmental law and regulation across the nation. ### Geographic Jurisdiction The agency's regulatory authority covers the entirety of Cuba, a sovereign state located in the Caribbean Sea. The jurisdiction encompasses a land area of 109,884 square kilometers, situated at latitude 22° and longitude -79.5°. The physical landscape under the Directorate's purview is characterized by rolling plains and low mountain ranges. The environment includes significant water bodies, notably the Caribbean Sea, which forms the country's lowest point at 0 meters, and the Gulf of Mexico to the north. The highest point in the jurisdiction is Pico Turquino. The climate is tropical, divided into a dry season from November to April and a wet season from May to October. ### Political and Administrative Framework The Directorate functions within the political framework of Cuba, which is a communist state and unitary state. The national government features a presidential system where the President serves as both head of state and government; this role is currently held by Miguel Díaz-Canel, who assumed office on April 19, 2018. The legislative branch consists of the National Assembly of People's Power (a unicameral parliament), while the highest judicial authority is the People's Supreme Court. The executive body is the Council of Ministers. Administratively, the agency's regulations are applied across 15 provinces and one special municipality: Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Granma, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Isla de la Juventud. ### Socio-Economic Context The Directorate operates in a society with a population of approximately 10,985,974 (2023 estimate). The population is highly urbanized, with 8,678,348 people living in urban areas compared to 2,533,843 in rural areas (2022 stats). The life expectancy is approximately 78 years. The national economy is a mixed economy characterized by strong social welfare programs and a reported unemployment rate of 1.2% as of 2023. The official language is Spanish, and the currency is the Cuban peso. Technical standards in the country include the use of .cu as the top-level internet domain, +53 as the international calling code, and CU as the aircraft registration prefix. ### International Standing Cuba, the state in which the Directorate operates, holds a High Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.764 as of 2021. The nation gained independence on December 10, 1898, and has been a member of the United Nations since October 24, 1945. It is also a member of the World Trade Organization and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. National symbols include the Flag of Cuba, the Coat of arms of Cuba, and the anthem "El Himno de Bayamo." ## References 1. [Source](https://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/riu/riuc04001/riuc04001_part3.pdf)