J.R.R. Tolkien described the Ents as shepherds of the trees.
Ents are ancient tree-like beings in Tolkien’s legendarium, created to protect and care for trees. Their name comes from an Old English word meaning “giant,” and their role reflects Tolkien’s interest in early Germanic and English literature as well as his concern about the destruction of forests.
The most prominent Ent in The Lord of the Rings is Treebeard, whose Elvish name is Fangorn. He lives in Fangorn Forest and helps lead the Ents against Isengard after learning how Saruman’s forces have damaged the surrounding woodland. Their march on Isengard is one of the story’s major turning points.
Ents are not simply ordinary trees that have become alive, and they are distinct from the Huorns, a related and more mysterious tree-like group. Tolkien also wrote that Entwives, the female Ents, were separated from the Ents and eventually disappeared.