Woodchopping upgrades increase the rate at which Villagers gather Wood and the amount of Wood they can carry back to drop sites. Economic upgrades will pay for themselves after a short time and result in resources being added to your stockpile faster.

The invention of first stone and then metal axes was an important technology breakthrough because it speeded the felling of trees and the gathering of wood, a critical building and fuel resource. The metal axe was much superior to stone, which was more fragile. The metal axe could be resharpened, while the stone one had to be continually replaced.