What is a "being?"

[Mark]

Are trees "beings"? Actually, maybe start with a definition of the word being. What does Wohlleben think? What do you think?
Question issued by Litlovers.com

[Mark]

To be a “being” is simply to exist. It seems the difference between plants, or at least trees, and animals for Wohlleben is that animals consume other beings for sustenance while trees consume sunlight. Fair enough, but he never makes a compelling case that I ought to feel some empathy toward trees because we have some spiritual connection. I like trees, they are certainly useful beyond being material for making houses, furniture and paper, but they aren’t my brothers and sisters.