José Isaac Corral Alemán

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Mining engineer, geologist, metallurgist, mathematician, and fish culturist. He was a distinguished scientist in the broadest sense of the word.

He was born in Cárdenas, province of Matanzas, son of José Corral García, a native of Santander, Spain, and of Victoriana Alemán Morejón, who sent him to the peninsula to pursue his studies, which he concluded with the title of Mining Engineer, in [1905].

Upon his return to Cuba, his first work was conducted in the Department of Public Works, where he participated in road construction projects and other civil engineering works, although by that time his vocation for the cultivation of exact sciences and his love for forestry were already well defined.

In 1909 he began working in the Mining Office of the Department of Agriculture, where he remained until 1948.

In 1911 he published a work titled: "Mining Demarcations", in which he showed his interest in forestry and mining issues, in parallel with his mathematical activity. Subsequently he published "Geological and Mining Survey of the Viñales Valley", but his concerns led him to another work, even more thoroughly documented, such as: "Utilization of Gases from the Motombo Mines, in 1918".

Between 1921 and 1928 he gained renown in Cuba and abroad, already being recognized as one of our distinguished authorities on forestry and mining matters, as well as a great mathematician.

During this period he published important works, among which are: "The Forests and the Waters", a documented study that establishes theses of great relevance, and "Cuban Mining Law". Likewise, he concentrated on mathematical studies of great importance for mining and forestry work.

In those years he achieved the most significant conservation decrees, which became the vertebral body of all existing forest legislation, including a regulation for protective forests and forest reserves, and a decree for the protection of palm groves.

He was admitted as a member of the Royal Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of La Habana, on March 17, 1923, following the presentation of his work titled: "The New Law of Universal Gravitation".

Another of his great merits was the creation of forest nurseries in each province, with capacity for the production of 100 thousand timber tree seedlings annually, in 1936, although unfortunately its operation was not systematic.

He also stood out for his participation in the activities for "Arbor Day", April 10 of each year, established by Decree-Law of 1936, with a view to promoting the planting of trees by schoolchildren in gardens, squares and parks, and thus instilling in the new generations a love for arboriculture and the care of nature.

He developed a constant and justified battle for the protection of forests, and demonstrated special interest in the educational work of the population in relation to their care. To that end, he proposed the creation of a National Forestry School, which thanks to his perseverance was founded in 1933, under the name National Forestry School "Conde de Pozos Dulces", in the old agricultural farm of Ciénaga, in La Habana, whose students received the title of Forester equivalent to that of Forest Specialist.