Along with air and water, soil is an essential element when considering the global environment. In recent years, along with world population growth, areas that used to be green belts have been developed and converted to agricultural land at an accelerated rate. The United Nations has pointed out the importance of initiatives related to Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). Land-use changes can result in the loss of CO₂ sinks and have serious adverse effects from the perspective of climate change. In addition, nutrient-rich topsoil, which had been protected from wind and rain by forests, has been lost due to deforestation, leading to desertification. The Idemitsu Group is actively engaged in projects to minimize the environmental impact of changes in land use.