The ecological efforts of Edeltraud and Thomas Günther are not limited to their research work. They have both been teaching and researching at TU Dresden since 1996. In 2018, Edeltraud Günther assumed the position of Director at the United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES).

The mahaleb cherry, also known as the St. Lucie cherry (Prunus mahaleb), grows to a height of 2.5 to 5 meters and has a wide crown.

This tree likes warm temperatures and was originally found wild in Germany only in the Kaiserstuhl and Moselle wine regions. Its main distribution area is in western North Africa and the North Mediterranean. This robust tree needs a lot of light and is very resistant to heat and drought. The mahaleb cherry is often used to graft much more sensitive sweet and sour cherry varieties.

Its numerous white flowers attract many insects that are interested in pollen and nectar. Its leaves provide caterpillar food for some butterfly species. The dense crowns of the trees not only provide shelter and nesting sites for birds – their fruit is also a popular food source during the winter.