The National Forest Policy of 1952 (the first forest policy of independent India) classified forests on a functional basis into four broad categories:
- Protection Forests: Forests managed for soil and water conservation, prevention of erosion, floods, and climatic stabilization.
- National Forests: Forests maintained to meet vital national needs such as defense, railways, communication, and heavy industries.
- Village Forests: Forests managed to supply fuel, fodder, small timber, and non-wood forest products to local rural communities.
- Tree Lands: Areas outside designated reserve forests that provide tree cover and environmental stability.
राष्ट्रीय वन नीति, 1952 ने वनों को कार्यात्मक आधार पर चार श्रेणियों में वर्गीकृत किया था:
- संरक्षण वन (Protection forests) - मृदा और जल संरक्षण हेतु।
- राष्ट्रीय वन (National forests) - रक्षा, रेलवे और उद्योगों की राष्ट्रीय आवश्यकताओं हेतु।
- ग्राम वन (Village forests) - स्थानीय ग्रामीणों की दैनिक ईंधन, चारा और लकड़ी की जरूरतों हेतु।
- वृक्ष भूमि (Tree lands) - वन सीमाओं के बाहर के वृक्ष क्षेत्र।