Yeah, we have "projects" (which we still call "jobs" internally) for things like creating and upgrading new streets. Eventually, this system will be applied to all kinds of things, including player-defined jobs which other players can take up in order to make a few ₡.
Ooo, jobs make the world go round, can be applied to Glitch too in terms of trees. They die die die when they are neglected, so a possible job to earn the player ₡₡₡ would be tree planting, which would also benefit the world.
I do think that the projects need to be made more collaborative though. Maybe some sort of exploration for materials that needs multiple players (kind of like the two player portions of the Lego games.)
^That's kind of what barnacles and paper collection is about. We set up groups & teleport from one paper tree to another & scrape barnacles together. It's tedious, but it gets the job done.