Antonio Núñez Jiménez

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The Speleological Society of Cuba and the Cuban Society of Geography granted him the status of Fourth Discoverer of Cuba in 1995, placing him at the same level as men such as Cristóbal Colón, Alejandro de Humboldt, and Fernando Ortiz, for his contribution in the field of underground Cuba.

Considered the father of Cuban Speleology. First President of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, and founding President of the Speleological Federation of Latin America and the Caribbean and of various national and international scientific societies.

Known internationally for his scientific work in the field of geographical sciences, especially in Speleology, one of his greatest passions and in geohistorical topics from the most diverse regions of the planet. Creator of the foundation Nature and Man.

He was born in Alquízar, a town in the province of Havana, Cuba, and from an early age demonstrated his vocation for Speleology, and graduated with a Doctorate in Philosophy and Letters from the University of Havana.

He was a student of doctors Salvador Massip and Sara Ysalgué. Beginning in 1939 at age 16, he started his explorations, with the cave of Loma de la Candela in Güines being the first visited by him, followed by Pinar del Río and Mayarí.

In 1940 he founded the Speleological Society of Cuba, and subsequently expanded the area of explorations throughout the entire country; and in 1945 organized the Geographic Expedition to Oriente, among other studies that led to very important scientific results in the field of Geography, Archaeology and Speleology such as: the ascent to Pico Turquino where for the first time the summit of Pico Suecia was reached, the Toa River was explored, as well as continued studies in the Seboruco Cave, where years earlier he had found archaeological remains of the Seboruco culture, dating back more than 6,000 years. In the mid-1950s he discovered in the Sierra de Los Órganos, near Viñales, the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás, which he conducted extensive studies on, and which constitutes the largest cavern in Cuba.

In the endless list of titles he obtained throughout his professional and academic life is the doctorate in Philosophy and Letters from the University of Havana, in 1951. From that moment on he established himself as a professor of the Geography Chair at the Secondary Education Institute of Vedado.

In 1954 he published a book on the Geography of Cuba, which was burned in its first edition by the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, as it described in detail the poverty of the natural landscape and resources associated with the situation Cuba was experiencing.

For his revolutionary activity he was detained on several occasions and tortured. After the Assault on the Moncada, he participated in the distribution of History Will Absolve Me along with his wife, Lupe Véliz, and other comrades.

After the Speleological Society was raided by the police of the Fulgencio Batista government, he moved to the city of Santa Clara where he obtained the Chair of Regional Geography (Eurasia, Africa and Oceania) and Geomorphology at the [[Universidad Central de las Villas Marta Abreu]], and there he created the Scientific Society of Speleology, which studied the central region of the country. These studies contributed to preparing the theater of operations, where Column 8 Ciro Redondo would later arrive in 1958, and there he was appointed Captain of the Rebel Army. He participated in the liberation of Fomento, Cabaiguán, Placetas, Remedios, Caibarién and Santa Clara, under the orders of Commander Ernesto Che Guevara.

Upon the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 he was appointed Executive Director of the National Institute of Agrarian Reform (INRA), as well as president of the Commission for Drawing up the Agrarian Reform Law. He was also appointed Captain Assistant to Che at the Military Fortress of La Cabaña. By order of Commander Fidel Castro, he participated in the creation of the first Peasant Militia of Cuba, organized especially for the capture of the counterrevolutionary gang that was operating in the Sierra de los Órganos.

In 1960 he was designated Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on a trip to the Soviet Union, this being the first official delegation of Cuba to the USSR. With that same rank he presided over official delegations to all socialist countries in the early years of the Revolution. He represented Cuba in international meetings of the FAO.

He traveled to the UN in the delegation presided over by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro in 1960, and presided over the Cuban delegation for the first anniversary of Algerian Independence.

Between 1960 and 1961, he was assigned the direction of the Camilo Cienfuegos School of Artillery, where 10,000 militiamen were trained in anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, and was also a founder of the Communist Party of Cuba.

He was Cuba's delegate to the XX Anniversary of Victory Against Fascism in Moscow, and a member of the delegation presided over by the First Secretary of the PCC, Fidel Castro, to the XXVI Congress of the CPSU in Moscow. He presided over the Cuban delegation for the first anniversary of the liberation of Kampuchea, participated in all meetings of the National Commissions for the Fifth Centenary in several Latin American countries, as well as in several International Congresses of the International Union of Speleology and the International Geographic Union.

According to Law 1011 of the Council of Ministers of February 20, 1962, the National Commission of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba was created and Dr. Antonio Núñez Jiménez was designated as President of that commission. During the 10 years that Núñez was in charge, first of the National Commission and later of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, he achieved the preparation and training of young Cuban researchers, for which he promoted collaboration with the Academies of Sciences of socialist countries.

During this time of founding work also in the scientific sector, he conducted fruitful work laying the foundation for the development of Cuban research. At the end of his 10-year term at the Academy, 33 research entities, 4 museums, 5 Natural Reserves, 2 botanical gardens, 2 delegations were established, as well as planetariums and seismological stations, forming today the system of scientific entities in Cuba.

In Cuba, he conducted various studies throughout the archipelago, making numerous contributions to the knowledge of the geography and archaeology of the country.

Main author of the Karst Map of Cuba, created between the Academies of Science of Cuba and Czechoslovakia.

He directed the creation of the National Atlas of Cuba in collaboration with the former Soviet Union, for which he received the Lenin State Prize, and was the author in that project of the Karst Maps of Cuba and Natural Regions of Cuba, which at the time of their publication became part of the new National Atlas of Cuba.

From the beginning of his role as the highest scientific leader in Cuba, he dedicated great effort to the development of meteorology, creating the conditions for scientific exchange with other meteorological services of countries with greater development in this field and especially with the former USSR.

During his presidency of the Academy of Sciences in 1964 he created the Department of Meteorology of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and in 1965 inaugurated the Institute of Meteorology.

Due to his efforts, the Cuban meteorological service was equipped with 60 new surface meteorological stations; the school of meteorology was founded for personnel at different levels including university level; meteorological research expeditions were carried out aboard ship-laboratories.

Cuban meteorologists were sent to Antarctica; the specialty of meteorological satellite was created; on March 23, 1969, he inaugurated the first reception station for meteorological satellite information and other specialized stations and technical resources were obtained.

In the specific case of meteorology he contributed to creating an advanced service and diagnostic system. The development of this service and meteorological research achieved are due in large part to his clear understanding of the importance that this science has for the security and development of a country with Cuba's characteristics.

Once his explorations throughout the Island had advanced, he decided to explore the world and participated in innumerable scientific expeditions. Among the most important geographical, speleological and archaeological investigations that can be mentioned are those conducted to the North Pole in 1972, invited by the USSR's meteorological service, and in 1982 afterwards, and invited by the same organization, he participated in the expedition to Antarctica known as the 27th Soviet Expedition to Antarctica.

He made a study trip to the Galápagos Islands, and on two occasions conducted research on Easter Island. Also to other regions such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, China and several European countries.

During the time he served as ambassador to Peru he studied hundreds of Rock Art sites in that country; the explorations in the Andes Cordillera from Peru to Venezuela (1972-1977).

He studied the different Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya civilization in Guatemala and Incan culture in Peru, the settlements in Yucatán, Mexico. Regions such as Machu Picchu and Cuzco were also particularly studied.

He was part of the international expedition known as By Canoe from the Amazon to the Caribbean, created, organized and directed by him and in which Latin American researchers participated, and covered twenty countries of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and the Caribbean Sea during one year, from 1987 to 1988.

He represented Cuba as president of numerous governmental, artistic, scientific and commercial delegations at many meetings, forums, tours, events and negotiations and treaties signed between countries. He taught courses and gave lectures at various universities and scientific centers in numerous countries such as England, France, USSR, Germany, Peru, Ecuador, Santo Domingo and others; and held prominent positions in state and scientific institutions:

Honorary Member of the National Speleological Society and member of the National Geographic Society in the United States,
Honorary Member of the Geographic Society of the Soviet Union in 1963.
Member of the Academy of Sciences of Czechoslovakia
Member of the Venezuelan Society of Natural Sciences and the Venezuelan Society of Speleology.
President of the Center for the Study of Rock Art of Latin America and the Caribbean in Vigirima, Venezuela.

He also excelled in the field of international and diplomatic relations
Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Peru during the Velazco Alvarado government, 1972 – 1977.
Founder of the Cuban National Commission of UNESCO, in 1978
He was an alternate member of the Central Committee of the Party and Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power.
Director of the School of Artillery of the Revolutionary Armed Forces,
He was designated by the Minister of the FAR as chief of the Special Speleological Formations to organize the War of All the People.
He was also president of the National Bank of Cuba in 1960
Technical Director of the School for Art Instructors in 1961
Professor Emeritus, he was a member and president of the Geographic Society of Cuba,
Full Member of the National Board of Archaeology and Ethnology,
Executive Director of the National Institute of Agrarian Reform (INRA),
Founding President of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, 1962 – 1972
He founded and organized the National School of Speleology near the Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás. Currently the school bears the name of Antonio Núñez Jiménez. At that school hundreds of speleologists from throughout the country received training in the basic knowledge of speleology.
Founding President of the Speleological Federation of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Vice Minister of Culture, from 1978 to 1989
Member of the Commission for Drawing up the Law for the Protection of the Environment and the Rational Use of Natural Resources,
Member of the Management Commission of the Great Sierra Maestra National Park,
Served as President of the National Commission of Monuments from 1978 until his death, increasing the list of Monuments which notably includes the Yunque de Baracoa and the Hotel Nacional de Cuba
President of the National Commemorative Commission of the Mid-Millennium of the Mutual Discovery of the Cultures of the Old and New World.
Foundation of Nature and Man

When he was 71 years old in 1994, he created the Foundation of Nature and Man (attached to the Ministry of Culture). A cultural and scientific institution of a civil, non-governmental, non-profit character, dedicated to research and promotion of programs and projects that collaborates with national and foreign organizations and institutions for the protection and development of the environment in its relationship with culture, science and society, to which he donated his entire collection of accumulated materials as a result of his active scientific and cultural life.

Under the motto Toward a Culture of Nature, it works towards harmony between society and its environment through the dissemination of the work and thought of its founders Antonio Núñez Jiménez and his wife Lupe Véliz and the activation of participatory processes and geohistorical, environmental, cultural and social research.

As president of the Foundation "Antonio Núñez Jiménez" of Nature and Man, he elaborated his work in a collection titled Cuba: Nature and Man, in 50 volumes, an encyclopedia that began to be published in 1982 and which constitutes the Foundation's greatest editorial challenge.

The Foundation marked its fifteenth year of existence in 2009 and during this time has achieved remarkable results from work in different areas, both urban and rural, such as: geohistorical research, heritage conservation; permaculture, rational use of water; environment and consumption, and environmental education.

Distinctions Degrees and Titles
He was honored in Cuba and abroad with more than 95 decorations and 180 diplomas

He obtained the following distinctions:
Order of the Nile (Egypt),
Order of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia,
Order of State Lenin of the USSR,
Order Félix Varela First Class,
Order of the Sun of Peru Order Carlos J. Finlay in 1983, (the highest recognition granted by the Andean country and was conferred on him for his extraordinary contribution to the study and knowledge of Rock Art and the testimony of the most complete written work on the Petroglyphs of Peru)
Order Juan Marinello in 1996,
Grand Officer of the Heraldic Order Cristóbal Colón of the Dominican Republic, in 1992,
National Order Honorato Vázquez of Ecuador, Medal XX Anniversary of the Attack on the Moncada Barracks, among many others.
Scientific Titles and Degrees
Degree of Doctor in Geographic Sciences from Lomonosov University of Moscow in 1960.
Honorary Researcher of the National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology of Lima, Peru in 1975.
Doctor in Geographic Sciences of Cuba in 1981.
Professor of Merit of the Universidad Central de Las Villas in 1982.
Senior Researcher of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba in 1982.
Associate Senior Professor of the Enrique José Varona Higher Pedagogical Institute in 1984.
Doctor Honoris Causa of the Universidad Central del Ecuador in 1985.
Honorary Professor of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1987.

Works
His work is extensive with more than 190 books and pamphlets and 1665 articles, forewords and lectures, as well as documentaries for film and television, interviews and others. His publications include the following:
The Caves of Bellamar. Editorial Ciudad, Havana, 1952
Geography of Cuba. Editorial Lex., Havana, 1954
Geography of Cuba. Editorial Lex., Havana, 1959
The Liberation of the Islands. Editorial Lex, Havana, 1959
Thus is my country. National Printing Press of Cuba, Havana, 1961
Twenty years exploring Cuba (the documented history of the Speleological Society), published in 1961.
Cuba with Backpack on Shoulder. Ediciones Unión, Havana, 1963
Caves and Pictographs. Edición Revolucionaria, Havana, 1967.
Cuba: Rock Drawings. Industrial gráfica S.A., Lima, 1975
Island of Pines. Pirates, Colonizers and Rebels. Editorial Arte y Literatura, Havana, 1976
Cuba Nature and Man: The Archipelago. Letras Cubanas, Havana, 1982 (the collection Cuba: Nature and Man, an encyclopedia in 50 volumes that began publication in 1982 and which constitutes the Foundation Núñez Jiménez's greatest editorial challenge)
On the March with Fidel 1959. Letras Cubanas, Havana, 1982 (a book describing the Commander's tour of the Island in the early years of the revolutionary triumph)
The Canarreos Archipelago. Turísticas de Cuba Editions. Catey Collection. No 1. Spain, 1983
Cuba Nature and Man: Geopoetry. Letras Cubanas, Havana, 1983
Cuba Nature and Man: Survey. Letras Cubanas, Havana, 1984
Caves and Karst. Editora Militar, Havana, 1984
Rock Art of Cuba. Jaca book, Turin, 1985
The Admiral in the Most Beautiful Land. Editorial of the Provincial Council of Cádiz, Cádiz (Spain), 1985
Petroglyphs of Peru. Editorial Científico Técnica, Havana, 1986.
By Canoe from the Amazon to the Caribbean. Editorial El Conejo, Quito, 1989.
Half a Century Exploring Cuba. Central Printing Press of the FAR, Havana, 1990
The Admiral of the Hundred Faces. Madrid Polytechnic University, Madrid, 1991
Geography of Camping. Editorial Gente Nueva, Havana, 1991
Cristóbal Colón in Cuba. Editorial of the Government of the State of Tabasco, Mexico, 1994
By Canoe through the Caribbean Sea. Patronate of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, 1994
The Book of Tobacco. Pulsar Internacional S.A. de C.V., Mexico, 1994
The Journey of the Havana Cigar. Cuban Tobacco Company, Havana, 1994
San Cristóbal de la Habana. Ediciones Caribean Color, Havana, 1995
Che in Combat. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
On the March with Fidel 1959. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
On the March with Fidel 1960. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
On the March with Fidel 1961. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
On the March with Fidel 1962. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
Grandmother. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
Toward a Culture of Nature. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
Food in the Wilderness. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
Geology. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
Black Slaves. Ediciones Mec Graphic Ltd., Havana, 1998
Culture, State and Revolution. Editorial Periplus, Havana, 1999
The Cuban Archipelago. Editorial Periplus, Havana, 2000.

He died in Havana on September 13, 1998. His dream has continued to be fulfilled and has broadened under the care of his companion Lupe Véliz, his daughters and dozens of collaborators who have been faithful to the legacy of Núñez Jiménez.