Give a wild animal or a native tree

Put a snow leopard under the Christmas tree this year-- figuratively speaking, of course. Through symbolic adoption programs, two wildlife protection organizations let you give some of the world's endangered species as a holiday gift.

The National Wildlife Federation offers symbolic adoptions for $30 to $75. Each gift includes a stuffed animal and extras such as a blanket or backpack.

The World Wildlife Fund has symbolic adoptions for $25 to $250 with packages that range from a certificate to a stuffed animal with a map and a gift box. Donations over $75 also receive an ornament featuring the WWF panda logo.

Both will deliver in time for Christmas if you order by December 17. Your donations go to support the organizations' conservation efforts for imperiled animals. These are sweet gifts for animal lovers who will know their plush toys have made a tiny, furry step to help protect polar bears, gray wolves, humpback whales, and more.

For a real tree-hugger, why not give a tree as a gift? TreePeople offers tree dedications for $25 to $100. A dedication includes a personalized card or certificate indicating a tree will be planted in a person's honor. Orders ship within 4 to 5 business days. The money goes to the Gift of Life program for tree planting in the Los Angeles area.

While dedicated trees are not marked with a name plaque, the public is invited to participate in tree planting events. The next Tree Dedication Ceremony takes place on December 30 in Malibu, California, so if you're local, you can watch how your gift makes the world a little greener!