A tree hugger is an environmentalist who advocates for sustainable practices and the protection of natural areas. The term was originally derogatory but has been adopted by conservationists. Tree huggers may physically embrace trees to prevent logging. TreeHugger is an organization promoting sustainable design. The terms “hippie” and “tree hugger” are sometimes used interchangeably as insults.
A tree hugger is someone who promotes environmental causes, believing that humans should take an active role in protecting the environment and advocating for sustainable use of the environment. This term actually originally emerged as a derogatory slang but was later adopted by conservationists to refer to themselves. When used in a self-referential way, people usually use the term somewhat jokingly, making fun of themselves to make people feel more comfortable with the causes they support.
This term has emerged to describe environmentalists active in the anti-logging movement. Logging advocates have sometimes suggested that if conservationists liked trees that much, they should embrace them, and some conservationists have done just that, tying their arms around trees to prevent loggers from taking them. Over time, the term came to be used more generally for anyone promoting sustainable environmental practices, not just a member of the anti-logging movement, and the modern tree hugger may not necessarily have literal tree hugging experience.
Tree growers tend to be particularly focused on nature and wilderness conservation, arguing that these areas should be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations and the use of the animals and plants that inhabit them, although they may be interested in other environmental causes as well. Conservation of natural areas is seen as an environmentally friendly practice because it promotes carbon sequestration and helps keep the climate stable. Conservationists point out that preserving forested regions has immediate as well as long-term benefits, and these benefits may outweigh forest use for timber, intrusive recreation, or development.
One organization that promotes sustainability has even adopted the slang term in its title. TreeHugger promotes sustainable design and provides resources for readers who want to learn about the various ways they can “go green” by adopting sustainable practices to preserve the environment. This use of the term is an example of the fun-loving adoption of “tree hugger” by people who have previously experienced the use of the term as an insult.
In some regions, the terms “hippie” and “tree hugger” are sometimes used interchangeably, along with the pejorative “dirty hippie.” When these terms are used as epithets, they are often meant to describe people with values that are seen as naïve, stonewalling, or just plain annoying. Tree farmers often oppose the development and exploitation of natural resources, much to the frustration of the people who profit from such activities, and terms like “tree hugs” are among the more meek insults hurled during heated discussions on such issues.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
