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: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: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.