Types of forests according to administration:

1. Reserved Forests: The forests where government puts restriction on cutting and collecting wood as well as on pasturing are known as reserved forests. Such forests are under the direct control of the government.
2. Protected Forests: The forests where local people are permitted to collect the wood and to graze their animals without causing any harm to the trees are called protected forests. These forests are under the control of local administration.
3. Unclassified Forests: These types of forests are still not classified. So, there is no restriction on deforestation or animal grazing.

Types of forests according to ownership, administration and management:

1. State Forest: Most of the forests of the country fall under this category. The Central or the State Government controls such forests.
2. Communal Forests: Local self-government, institutions like gram panchayat, municipalities, municipal corporations, district panchayat, etc. have control over such forests.
3. Private Forests: Forest land owned by individuals is called private forest. These types of forests are found more in Odisha, Meghalaya, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Some of the forests of here are in haphazard condition whereas some of them are totally barren.