Love your fellow tree

The reason for not cutting down the trees around the city we are laying siege to is given “for a tree is like a man, who enters into besiegement before you” Rashi explains that the Torah is asking rhetorically; “Do you think that this tree is like a person who goes into his walled city, – enduring hunger and thirst – , from fear of you, why cut it down?” The question is why is the hunger and thirst of the besieged fellow relevant here, why did Rashi bring it up? Answers the Chizkuni; this is the entire point; Why torture this poor tree with hunger and thirst by cutting him down?! Don’t you have feelings for the poor thing?! Fascinating! Here we find reference of a relationship between man and tree, the responsibility man has to living flora, and how he may not cause them pain!!