Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources facts for kids
| Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico | |
 |
|
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | June 20, 1972 |
| Preceding Department |
|
| Type | Executive department |
| Jurisdiction | Puerto Rico |
| Headquarters | San Juan, PR |
| Employees | 1,096 |
| Department executive |
|
| Child agencies |
|
| Key documents |
|
| Website | http://drna.pr.gov/ |
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PRDNER) is a special part of the government of Puerto Rico. Its main job is to protect, save, and manage the amazing natural places and resources in Puerto Rico. This includes things like forests, rivers, beaches, and wildlife.
As of April 2022, the person in charge of the department is Anaí Rodríguez. She is the interim Secretary. The department has about 1,096 employees who work hard to keep Puerto Rico's environment healthy.
History of the PRDNER
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, also known as DRNA, was started on June 20, 1972. It was created by a special rule called Law Number 23. The very first leader of this department was Cruz Matos.
In 2016, the main office building of the DRNA had some problems with its air system. Because of this, the staff had to move to a different place for a while. After a lot of work and money spent on repairs, the department was able to move back into its main building by 2021.
In 2018, the governor at the time, Ricardo Rosselló, signed a new law. This law brought together a few other important groups into the DRNA. These groups included the Solid Wastes Authority, the Board of Environmental Quality, and the Company of National Parks of Puerto Rico. This made the DRNA even bigger and more important for protecting the environment.
In 2019, the Secretary of the department, Tania Vázquez Rivera, left her job. In February 2020, Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced chose Rafael Machargo to be the new Secretary.
In August 2021, during a meeting, Secretary Rafael Machargo shared that the department did not have a full plan for how to handle all the trash on the island. Also, in 2021, the department needed more engineers and other staff. These people are important for managing the water pumping stations in different towns.
New Plans for 2022
In March 2022, Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced some good news. The DRNA would get $4 million to restart its training academy. This means the department can train and hire new people to help protect Puerto Rico's natural world.
Groups within the PRDNER
The DRNA works with several important groups to do its job. These include:
- Natural Resources Administration
- Board of Environmental Quality
- Natural Resources Ranger Corps: These are like park rangers who help protect natural areas.
- Solid Wastes Authority: This group helps manage trash and waste.
- Company of National Parks of Puerto Rico: This group takes care of state parks, including the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo.
See also
In Spanish: Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico para niños
