Santa Cruz Department

Santa Cruz, with an area of 370,621 km², is the largest of the nine constituent departments of Bolivia. In the 2001 census, it reported a population of 2,029,471. The capital is the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The state is one of the wealthiest states in Bolivia with huge reserves of natural gas. The effors by the Bolivian president Evo Morales to introduce land reforms and redistribute the natural gas revenues with the poorer indigenous people in the western Bolivia has led to divisions within the country and referundum for autonomy. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7607158.stm Anti-Morales protests hit Bolivia] ]

Government and Administration

According to current Constitution, the highest authority in the department lies with the prefect "(prefecto," similar to a governor but with restricted powers). The prefect was appointed by the President of the Republic till 2005, since then it has been elected by popular vote to serve for a five-year term.

Santa Cruz also has a Departmental Council "(Consejo Departamental," similar to a state legislature but with restricted powers) of 23 members called councilors ("consejeros"). Each of the department's provinces returns at least one councilor, while remaining councilors are assigned to provinces on population basis. By law, the election of councilors is an attribution of municipalities. However, some municipalities such as Camiri (Province of Cordillera) or Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Province of Andrés Ibáñez) have issued internal norms ("ordenanzas") in order to have their councilors elected by popular vote.

Economy

The department covers a vast expanse of territory in eastern Bolivia, much of it rainforests, extending from the Andes to the border with Brazil. The department's economy depends largely on agriculture, with sugar, cotton, soybeans and rice being grown. In recent years, the discovery of natural gas in the department has led to plans for the development of a regional natural gas industry that is likely to boost the local economy. The department also hosts El Mutún, the second largest iron ore reserve (after Carajás in Brazil) and largest magnesium deposits are also located there.

In July 2004, the people voted in a nation-wide referendum to allow for regulated exportation of the gas. [ [http://www.electoralgeography.com/new/en/countries/b/bolivia/2004-referendum-bolivia.html Gas Referendum] ]

Provinces

The Department of Santa Cruz is divided into 15 provinces

Provinces of Santa Cruz Department (2005)

Call for autonomy

Eastern provinces in Bolivia including the Santa Cruz has majority of the natural gas reserves. Bolivian president Evo Morales is planning to introduce legislation to tackle the poverty in the country by sharing the wealth of the nation. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7556060.stm Morales offers dialogue to rivals] ]

In May 2008, the government of Santa Cruz began conducting a referendum for autonomy from the federal government over, among other things, strains between the local government and President Evo Morales. Partial results from the referendum showed that 82% of participating voters supported autonomy [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7382538.stm Bolivia region 'chooses autonomy'] , BBC. 5 May, 2008.] , but no figures are yet available regarding the turnout (which would be crucial for the legitimacy of the referendum) [ [http://mobile.reuters.com/mobile/m/FullArticle/CWOR/nworldNews_uUSN0332548020080505?src=RSS-WOR Bolivia's richest region votes "yes" on autonomy] , Reuters. 5 May, 2008.] .

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