diff --git a/js/elements/fire.js b/js/elements/fire.js
index 4f7caec..243f2e9 100644
--- a/js/elements/fire.js
+++ b/js/elements/fire.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 let fireUpdateCounter = 0;
 
 function updateFire(x, y) {
+    let modified = false;
     const metadata = getMetadata(x, y);
     
     if (!metadata) {
@@ -10,15 +11,17 @@ function updateFire(x, y) {
             lifetime: 100 + Math.floor(Math.random() * 100),
             colorIndex: Math.floor(Math.random() * FIRE_COLORS.length)
         });
-        return;
+        return true;
     }
     
     // Decrease lifetime
     metadata.lifetime--;
+    modified = true;
     
     // Randomly change color for flickering effect
     if (Math.random() < 0.2) {
         metadata.colorIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * FIRE_COLORS.length);
+        modified = true;
     }
     
     // Update metadata
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ function updateFire(x, y) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x, y - 1, FIRE);
         moveMetadata(x, y, x, y - 1);
-        return;
+        return true;
     }
     
     // Fire can also move slightly to the sides
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ function updateFire(x, y) {
             setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
             setPixel(x + direction, y - 1, FIRE);
             moveMetadata(x, y, x + direction, y - 1);
-            return;
+            return true;
         }
     }
     
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ function updateFire(x, y) {
                 lifetime: 100 + Math.floor(Math.random() * 100),
                 colorIndex: Math.floor(Math.random() * FIRE_COLORS.length)
             });
+            modified = true;
         }
     }
     
@@ -68,10 +72,14 @@ function updateFire(x, y) {
     if (metadata.lifetime <= 0) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         removeMetadata(x, y);
+        return true;
     }
+    
+    return modified;
 }
 
 function updateLava(x, y) {
+    let modified = false;
     const metadata = getMetadata(x, y);
     
     if (!metadata) {
@@ -79,11 +87,13 @@ function updateLava(x, y) {
         setMetadata(x, y, { 
             colorIndex: Math.floor(Math.random() * LAVA_COLORS.length)
         });
+        modified = true;
     } else {
         // Randomly change color for flowing effect
         if (Math.random() < 0.1) {
             metadata.colorIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * LAVA_COLORS.length);
             setMetadata(x, y, metadata);
+            modified = true;
         }
     }
     
@@ -94,17 +104,20 @@ function updateLava(x, y) {
             setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
             setPixel(x, y + 1, LAVA);
             moveMetadata(x, y, x, y + 1);
+            return true;
         } 
         // Try to move down-left or down-right
         else if (getPixel(x - 1, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
             setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
             setPixel(x - 1, y + 1, LAVA);
             moveMetadata(x, y, x - 1, y + 1);
+            return true;
         } 
         else if (getPixel(x + 1, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
             setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
             setPixel(x + 1, y + 1, LAVA);
             moveMetadata(x, y, x + 1, y + 1);
+            return true;
         } 
         // Try to spread horizontally (slower than water)
         else if (Math.random() < 0.3) {
@@ -115,20 +128,24 @@ function updateLava(x, y) {
                 setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
                 setPixel(x - 1, y, LAVA);
                 moveMetadata(x, y, x - 1, y);
+                return true;
             } else if (!goLeft && getPixel(x + 1, y) === EMPTY) {
                 setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
                 setPixel(x + 1, y, LAVA);
                 moveMetadata(x, y, x + 1, y);
+                return true;
             } 
             // Try the other direction if first failed
             else if (!goLeft && getPixel(x - 1, y) === EMPTY) {
                 setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
                 setPixel(x - 1, y, LAVA);
                 moveMetadata(x, y, x - 1, y);
+                return true;
             } else if (goLeft && getPixel(x + 1, y) === EMPTY) {
                 setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
                 setPixel(x + 1, y, LAVA);
                 moveMetadata(x, y, x + 1, y);
+                return true;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -151,16 +168,21 @@ function updateLava(x, y) {
                 lifetime: 100 + Math.floor(Math.random() * 100),
                 colorIndex: Math.floor(Math.random() * FIRE_COLORS.length)
             });
+            modified = true;
         }
         
         // Lava can melt sand into glass (stone)
         else if (nearbyType === SAND && Math.random() < 0.05) {
             setPixel(x + dir.dx, y + dir.dy, STONE);
+            modified = true;
         }
         
         // Lava can burn dirt
         else if (nearbyType === DIRT && Math.random() < 0.02) {
             setPixel(x + dir.dx, y + dir.dy, EMPTY);
+            modified = true;
         }
     }
+    
+    return modified;
 }
diff --git a/js/elements/plants.js b/js/elements/plants.js
index 85bfa3f..3ae81ed 100644
--- a/js/elements/plants.js
+++ b/js/elements/plants.js
@@ -4,18 +4,22 @@ function updateGrass(x, y) {
     if (getPixel(x, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x, y + 1, GRASS);
+        return true;
     } 
     else if (getPixel(x - 1, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x - 1, y + 1, GRASS);
+        return true;
     } 
     else if (getPixel(x + 1, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x + 1, y + 1, GRASS);
+        return true;
     }
     else if (getPixel(x, y + 1) === WATER) {
         setPixel(x, y, WATER);
         setPixel(x, y + 1, GRASS);
+        return true;
     }
     
     // Grass can spread to nearby dirt
@@ -28,13 +32,17 @@ function updateGrass(x, y) {
         const dir = directions[Math.floor(Math.random() * directions.length)];
         if (getPixel(x + dir.dx, y + dir.dy) === DIRT) {
             setPixel(x + dir.dx, y + dir.dy, GRASS);
+            return true;
         }
     }
     
     // Grass dies if covered (no air above)
     if (getPixel(x, y - 1) !== EMPTY && Math.random() < 0.05) {
         setPixel(x, y, DIRT);
+        return true;
     }
+    
+    return false;
 }
 
 function updateSeed(x, y) {
@@ -43,20 +51,24 @@ function updateSeed(x, y) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x, y + 1, SEED);
         moveMetadata(x, y, x, y + 1);
+        return true;
     } 
     else if (getPixel(x - 1, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x - 1, y + 1, SEED);
         moveMetadata(x, y, x - 1, y + 1);
+        return true;
     } 
     else if (getPixel(x + 1, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x + 1, y + 1, SEED);
         moveMetadata(x, y, x + 1, y + 1);
+        return true;
     }
     // Seeds can float on water
     else if (getPixel(x, y + 1) === WATER) {
         // Just float, don't do anything
+        return false;
     }
     // If seed is on dirt or grass, it can germinate
     else if (getPixel(x, y + 1) === DIRT || getPixel(x, y + 1) === GRASS) {
@@ -72,12 +84,16 @@ function updateSeed(x, y) {
                 age: 0,
                 height: 1
             });
+            return true;
         } else {
             // Regular seed becomes a grass blade
             setPixel(x, y, GRASS_BLADE);
             setMetadata(x, y, { age: 0, height: 1 });
+            return true;
         }
     }
+    
+    return false;
 }
 
 function updateGrassBlade(x, y) {
@@ -86,7 +102,7 @@ function updateGrassBlade(x, y) {
     
     if (!metadata) {
         setMetadata(x, y, { age: 0, height: 1 });
-        return;
+        return true;
     }
     
     // Increment age
@@ -99,13 +115,17 @@ function updateGrassBlade(x, y) {
         setMetadata(x, y - 1, { age: 0, height: metadata.height + 1 });
         metadata.isTop = false;
         setMetadata(x, y, metadata);
+        return true;
     }
     
     // Grass blades die if covered by something other than another grass blade
     if (getPixel(x, y - 1) !== EMPTY && getPixel(x, y - 1) !== GRASS_BLADE && Math.random() < 0.01) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         removeMetadata(x, y);
+        return true;
     }
+    
+    return false;
 }
 
 function updateFlower(x, y) {
@@ -119,7 +139,7 @@ function updateFlower(x, y) {
             age: 0,
             height: 1
         });
-        return;
+        return true;
     }
     
     // Increment age
@@ -139,12 +159,14 @@ function updateFlower(x, y) {
         });
         metadata.isTop = false;
         setMetadata(x, y, metadata);
+        return true;
     }
     
     // Flowers die if covered
     if (getPixel(x, y - 1) !== EMPTY && getPixel(x, y - 1) !== FLOWER && Math.random() < 0.01) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         removeMetadata(x, y);
+        return true;
     }
     
     // Flowers can drop seeds occasionally
@@ -154,6 +176,9 @@ function updateFlower(x, y) {
         if (getPixel(x + dir, y) === EMPTY) {
             setPixel(x + dir, y, SEED);
             setMetadata(x + dir, y, { type: 'flower' });
+            return true;
         }
     }
+    
+    return false;
 }
diff --git a/js/elements/trees.js b/js/elements/trees.js
index 05bd891..5004924 100644
--- a/js/elements/trees.js
+++ b/js/elements/trees.js
@@ -5,26 +5,33 @@ function updateTreeSeed(x, y) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x, y + 1, TREE_SEED);
         moveMetadata(x, y, x, y + 1);
+        return true;
     } 
     else if (getPixel(x - 1, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x - 1, y + 1, TREE_SEED);
         moveMetadata(x, y, x - 1, y + 1);
+        return true;
     } 
     else if (getPixel(x + 1, y + 1) === EMPTY) {
         setPixel(x, y, EMPTY);
         setPixel(x + 1, y + 1, TREE_SEED);
         moveMetadata(x, y, x + 1, y + 1);
+        return true;
     }
     // Seeds can float on water
     else if (getPixel(x, y + 1) === WATER) {
         // Just float, don't do anything
+        return false;
     }
     // If seed is on dirt or grass, it can grow into a tree
     else if (getPixel(x, y + 1) === DIRT || getPixel(x, y + 1) === GRASS) {
         // Start growing a tree
         growTree(x, y);
+        return true;
     }
+    
+    return false;
 }
 
 function growTree(x, y) {
diff --git a/js/render.js b/js/render.js
index 09ed541..2644ab4 100644
--- a/js/render.js
+++ b/js/render.js
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ function render() {
         
         const key = getChunkKey(chunkX, chunkY);
         
+        // Skip rendering if the chunk hasn't changed and isn't marked as dirty
+        if (!dirtyChunks.has(key) && !worldMoved) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        
         if (!chunks.has(key)) continue;
         
         const chunk = chunks.get(key);
@@ -115,8 +120,14 @@ function render() {
                 );
             }
         }
+        
+        // Remove this chunk from the dirty list after rendering
+        dirtyChunks.delete(key);
     }
     
+    // Reset world moved flag after rendering
+    worldMoved = false;
+    
     // Draw cursor position and update debug info
     if (currentMouseX !== undefined && currentMouseY !== undefined) {
         const worldX = Math.floor(currentMouseX / PIXEL_SIZE) + worldOffsetX;