Vogelmoos Nature Reserve

Looking at photos of trees that I made recently I whispered to myself: such diverse personalities displayed here. Thinking about that expression I reminded myself that personality is a feature of humans, maybe of some animals. The critical organ that conveys personality is the brain. Trees do not have a brain in the usual parlance. Undoubtedly, trees have an information conveying system that one might call a nervous system but it is unlike the complexity of the nervous system of higher mammals and humans.

When referring to recurrent behaviors of humans or animals or the way of re-/ acting, we tend to call this character. Do trees have character? If at all, only in the most elementary sense.

What do AI supported internet search machines say? One of them – ChatGPT – stressed consciousness as a lacking property of trees leading to denying them personality. However, the personality of humans is to some extent a property that may be perceived differently depending on the person asking the question. Trees are said to have personality in that regard. Majestic oaks may be seen as strong and wise; willows as graceful and melancholic, and cherry blossom as cheerful and delicate (source: ChatGPT).

ChatGPT mentions that although trees don’t have emotions, their ability to communicate, protect their young, and form mutually beneficial relationships with fungi (mycorrhizal networks) mirrors social behaviors of some animals, giving rise to the “poetic idea” of personality.

The unique features of trees are especially apparent when they are bare after shedding their leaves in late fall. What do you think of the following examples?

When talking about forests or woods one unintentionally subsumes all kinds of trees squeezed into an area. Modern ways of thinking about the woods imply collectives of trees living in a community, each member endowed with a specific set of faculties, survival strategies and way to ensure the growth of progeny.

Is it worth protecting and fostering trees and woods? Yes, in my opinion. Not only for their role in protecting the environment and stabilising the climate but because trees have been man’s indispensable partner in ensuring life on earth. The diversity of the trees parallels that of humans. It is worthwhile keeping their role and beauty visible for generations to come and to think of them with such attributes as personality.