Pollution from cars, industry, and power generation is a major problem in several areas of Central America. Central America remains one of the world's poorest regions. This has encouraged massive exploitation of the area's natural resource base. Large areas of forest have been cut down and burned for firewood or used in the production of paper, while significant portions of land have been cleared for agricultural use. Oil exploration activities in certain parts of Guatemala, such as the northern Peten rainforest region, have encouraged road construction, accelerating the clearing of land and forested areas. These activities have lead to large-scale erosion and soil loss, leaving many areas vulnerable to flash floods and mudslides as the natural landscape's ability to retain water is jeopardized.