- This article is about forests as collectivities of trees. For other uses see Forest (disambiguation).
Several types of forests exist. Among them can be noted the taiga, rain forest, tropical dry forest, and temperate hardwood forest.
In ecological terms, a forest may be differentiated from a woodland. In this case, a forest is considered to have a closed canopy, where the branches and foliage of trees interlock, whereas a woodland is considered to have an open canopy, where sunlight penetrates between trees.
The science of studying and managing forests, with a goal of sustainable extraction, is called forestry. Ecologists often study forests.