The concept of sustainable development comes originally from forestry and was coined by Hans Carl von Carlowitz. Originally, it meant a way of managing a forest where only as many trees as could be grown there are cut down, so that the forest is never liquidated, so that it can always rebuild itself.

Sustainable development was promoted at the beginning of the 19th century by all German Forestry Schools. At that time, German forestry enjoyed great recognition around the world, and therefore the concept was adopted by many scientists from other countries, from France to Italy. It was translated into English where Sustained Yield Forestry was mentioned. The term "sustainable" was then taken over by the ecological movement and reintroduced into the political debate in the 1980s.