The IGU Commission on the Sustainability of Rural Systems was approved at the International Geographical Commission meeting in The Hague in August 1996, replacing the Study Group of the same name that had functioned from 1992 to 1996. The CSRS holds annual meetings, each year in a different country.
Dr. Ian Bowler (UK), was chair of the Study Group from 1992 to 1996, and Chair of the Commission from 1996 to 2000. In August, 2000, Dr. Chris Bryant (Canada) took over as chair of the Commission.
Dr. Chris Bryant passed on the Chair of the Commission to a new Joint Chair in September, 2006: Dr. Ana Maria de S M Bicalho (Brazil) and Dr. Lucette Laurens (France).
Dr. Ana Firmino (Portugal) and Dr. Doo-Chul Kim (Japan) took over as Co-Chairs of the Commission in August, 2012.
Dr. Holly Barcus (USA) and Dr. Serge Schmitz (Belgium) were Co-Chairs of the Commission, elected July, 2016. In August, 2020 Dr. Holly Barcus was elected as Vice-President of the IGU, and Dr. Valerià Paül (Spain) was appointed as Co-Chair. Dr. Fiona Haslam-Mckenzie (Australia) was elected Secretary.