Forests are renewable material resources. As renewable resources, they will never run out if they are used sustainably.

Some renewable resources increase as they are used. Forests are example of such an increasing renewable resource, as more trees can grow in the place of ones that are cut down. In contrast, the amount of water does not increase as it is used, but it is still a renewable material resource.

The amount of wood in the forests of Finland has increased by 60 percent during the last 70 years. This has been achieved mainly through better forestry.

As forests are material natural resources, they can be owned. The ownership of a forest can be transmitted from one person or organization to another. 

However, our forests are also immaterial natural resources. For example, the beautiful natural landscapes found in the Finnish forests are very much intangible and therefore immaterial. Immaterial natural resources cannot be owned, nor can their value be measured in money.