These terms were developed during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, where the concept of the biosphere was recognized by the major international organizations, and risks associated with reductions in biodiversity were publicly acknowledged.
Disse begreber blev sat i system under verdenstopmødet i Rio de Janeiro i 1992, hvor de store internationale organisationer godkendte begrebet biosfære, og hvor farerne ved en reduktion af biodiversiteten blev offentligt anerkendt.