, a major tourist attraction Gold was mined in the region from the 17th century, and more recently other minerals. Farms produced rice, coffee, tea and bananas. The Vale do Ribeira became a supplier of low-cost natural resources, exploited without regard for the environment or cultural heritage. It is one of the poorest parts of the states of São Paulo and Paraná, with low levels of education and employment. The economically active and young population continues to migrate to other regions. The region is close to the major industrial centers of
São Paulo and
Curitiba, and there are proposals to divert water to these centers. In recent years infrastructure improvements have included making
BR-116 a divided highway and construction of hydroelectric plants. The Vale do Ribeira today has large numbers of small properties, up to , producing bananas, beef, tomatoes and tangerines. Other products include maté tea, rice, corn and flowers, and fish in the coastal portion. There are about 80
caiçaras communities along the Iguape-Cananéia-Paranaguá estuary lagoon complex, mainly engaged in sustainable subsistence
artisanal fishing or collection of crustaceans. There are ten Guarani villages, with families from the
Mbyá and
Ñandeva subgroups. They practice subsistence agriculture and sustainable hunting and fishing. They have been forced to move more than once when state or national parks were established on their traditional lands. Agroforestry, producing and selling seedlings of native Atlantic Forest species, is a source of income for many communities. Commercialization of Juçara juice has potential. Mariculture, including oysters, shellfish and fish, is also showing promise. The state and federal governments are investing in development of ecotourism and adventure tourism. Some of the main attractions are the impressive calcareous caves such as those of
Diabo,
Santana, Morro Preto, Água Suja and
Casa da Pedra. ==Administration==