Forester

The Forester is a small service building that automatically plants trees and bushes within a fixed work area and keeps planted areas replenished for a growing colony. It is unlocked through the Inventor research and requires processed Planks and Logs to construct. Foresters do not harvest trees or gather produce themselves; they work in tandem with Lumberjack Flags, Gatherer Flags and Tappers to supply wood and harvestable plant products for the settlement.

A Forester’s planting actions apply only to blocks that contain moisture. You designate growing zones with the "Plant trees and bushes" tool and can prioritize which plant the Forester should plant. Once a tree reaches maturity it must be cut by a Beaver at a Lumberjack Flag; the Forester will then automatically replant that spot. For bushes and trees used for recurring yields (Blueberry, Coffee, Dandelion bushes, and Pine/Chestnut/Maple when tapped for resin, chestnuts, or syrup), the Forester does not need to act again unless the plant dies from lack of moisture. Mangrove replacements require enabling the Forester’s option “Replace dead trees not marked for cutting” to restore lost mangroves.

On flat, unobstructed terrain the Forester’s work area extends 21 blocks ahead of its entrance and 20 blocks in every other direction (measured inclusively from the block immediately outside the entrance). Planting speed varies by species; practical hourly planting rates average roughly: Blueberry 0.37 plants/hr, Coffee 0.2, Dandelion 0.25, Birch 0.56, Pine 0.74, Chestnut 0.74, Mangrove 0.6, Maple 1.1, Oak 1.1. A single Forester can reliably service up to four Lumberjacks; introducing a fifth lumberjack may produce missed planting opportunities.

Tree types differ in growth time and yield, which affects how you should prioritize planting. Examples of wood production rates: Birch takes 7 days for 1 Wood (0.143 Wood/day), Pine 12 days for 2 Wood (0.167/day), Mangrove 10 days for 2 Wood (0.200/day), Maple 28 days for 6 Wood (0.214/day), and Oak 30 days for 8 Wood (0.267/day). Several trees also provide repeated harvests after the first growth: Blueberry bushes produce 3 berries every 12 days (0.25/day), Coffee bushes produce coffee every 3 days (0.333/day), and Pine yields 2 resin every 7 days (0.286/day). Use Foresters to seed a mix of fast-growing and high-yield trees depending on whether you need steady wood, repeatable harvests, or specific resources like resin or syrup.

Practical considerations and tips:

• Ensure planting areas are irrigated; Foresters only plant on moist blocks.
• Place Foresters centrally to cover forest patches and minimize travel time for planting.
• Match the number of Lumberjacks to Foresters: aim for one Forester per up to four Lumberjack Flags to avoid missed plantings.
• Use the Forester’s priority setting to favor valuable recurring-yield plants (Coffee, Blueberry, Pine resin, Maple syrup) when needed.
• Activate “Replace dead trees not marked for cutting” when working with mangroves or other species prone to dying from drying soil.
• Research and construct the Forester early: it requires Planks (from a Lumber Mill or Industrial Lumber Mill) and Logs, and is an important part of stabilizing wood supply in new colonies.

The Forester has undergone multiple updates since introduction, including UI and model tweaks, a new sound set, and the addition of the dead-tree replacement checkbox. It is categorized as a Wood building and integrates closely with lumber and tapping production chains.