How to manage sustainable woodcutting and forestry

## Trees that Produce Useful Resources

Tree branches are one of the most essential items in the game. They spawn naturally on various trees, so it is considered a good habit to harvest a branch immediately if you see one growing on a tree, as this prompts the tree to regrow another. A highly useful job during childhood is a branch gatherer.

The following trees produce useful branches and other items, and should generally **never** be harvested for firewood:

* Maple Tree with Straight Branch
* Lombardy Poplar Tree, with Small Curved Branch
* Yew Tree, with Yew Branch
* Juniper Tree

Maple Trees provide Straight Branches and leaves. The branches can be crafted into Long Straight Shafts, Short Shafts, and Stakes, which are necessary for tool handles, Hand Cart handles, firebrands, Stakes, Fence Kits, Well Stanchion Kits, and numerous other useful and essential items. Maple branches can also be used to thresh Wheat. Given their many uses, branches from maple trees are among the most essential items in the game and should never be used as Kindling. Maple leaves can be used in the recipe for fire.

Lombardy Poplar Trees provide Small Curved Branches and leaves. The branches can be crafted into the Small Curved Shaft, which can then be crafted into the Fire Bow Drill and more advanced technologies like the Pump Beam Kit for the Newcomen Pump. Generally, poplar branches are one of the best sources for Kindling, as they can be stacked in piles of two and carried as a single item. Additionally, the Small Curved Shaft can be inserted into a backpack or a basket, or stacked into piles of two and carried as one item. Poplar leaves can be used in the recipe for fire.

Yew Trees provide Yew Branches, which can be crafted into the Yew Shaft. Yew shafts have limited uses as of Release 222 (May 2019), but are necessary for the Yew Bow. These branches can only be carried one at a time, so while they do not transport as well, because they have limited uses, they are also considered a good source of Kindling. Yew trees do not produce leaves.

Juniper Trees do not produce branches or leaves, but rather Juniper Tinder, an essential ingredient for crafting fire. While it is considered wasteful to harvest most useful trees, it is considered especially wasteful to harvest the last remaining juniper tree in a town, as it is likely that this tree is the only convenient source for tinder.

* Rubber Tree
* Oil Palm
* Banana Tree
* Wild Mango Tree

Trees that occur in the Jungle, including the Banana Tree, Wild Mango Tree, Rubber Tree, and Oil Palm are necessary for producing Bananas, mangoes, Rubber Dough, and Palm Oil. Generally they occur in such abundance in the jungle that you might often see players harvesting them for firewood, but beginners should avoid doing so.

## Harvesting Trees for Firewood and Lumber

Whenever you harvest a tree for Firewood or Boards, you use one charge of the Steel Axe and irreversibly remove a tree, producing, in most cases, Firewood, a Butt Log, and a Stump. Before harvesting a tree, first make sure that you have gathered any branches or other useful items. Only chop as many trees as you think is necessary at the time so as not to wear out the axe. The following trees are generally considered the best sources for Firewood and Boards, as they produce few or no useful resources. If your village is in need of either, try to only cut down these trees:

* Bald Cypress Tree
* Willow Tree
* Dead Tree
* White Pine Tree

Trees that occur naturally in the Swamps and Desert are best to harvest, as they provide no useful resources. These include the Bald Cypress Tree and the Willow Tree in the swamp, and the Dead Tree in the desert.

White Pine Trees only produce Pine Needles, which are of limited use as of Release 222 (May 2019), so they are also considered acceptable for harvesting.

## Growing Trees

In more advanced towns, it is common to see a grove of trees that has been planted by another player as a more convenient source of branches or other material. While planting trees is not difficult, it does require coordination among players, as two waterings of the planted tree are required for the tree to reach maturity, so generally this is only practiced by more advanced players.