The international forestry sector has played an important role in developing and improving the concept of sustainable development regarding the conservation and use of the world's natural resources.
A global consensus on the components of sustainable forest management was reached at the first UN “Earth Summit” held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. This is in contrast to industries that supply other materials, such as metal, plastic and concrete, where “sustainability” claims are not linked to any internationally agreed definition.
At the 1992 Earth Summit, the international community agreed on a "Non-Legally Binding Mandate Statement of Principles for Achieving Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of All Forest Types", which stated the following:
“Forest resources and forest lands must be managed sustainably to meet the social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual needs of current and future generations. These needs include wood and wood products, water, food, feed, medicine, fuel, shelter, employment, recreation, habitat for wildlife, natural diversity, carbon sequestration and reservoirs, etc. for forest products and services. “To protect forests from the dangerous effects of contamination such as airborne pollution, fire, pests and disease, appropriate measures should be taken to preserve their full multiple values.”