Mayaki is a small village in Ukraine, just next to Lower Dniester National Park. However, its most amazing place is not the astonishing Park, but the observing station of Astronomical observatory of I.I. Mechnikov Odessa National University, the most important astonomical observatory in Ukraine at the moment.
Odessa Astronomical Observatory possesses a collection of 100,000 photographic plates, 80% of which were exposed in Mayaki from 1957 to 1998. However it can be hard to believe, it is the third largest astronomical images collection in the world (after Harvard and
Sonnenberg collections)!
We visited the place during our field visit in the framework of Central European Initiative - CEI project we are implementing in cross-border area of Moldova and Ukraine.
Our project partners Agricola NGO, Purcari Communities, Rohožník, Regionalverband Pongau and QG Enviro were as much impressed as us!

Did you know that pond's evaluation should be carried out in late winter or early spring because this is the time of the year when the pond is full?
That is why we decided to start mapping and assessment in February. During evaluation, conducted in the framweork of project financed by Central European Initiative - CEI, we discovered that the surface of La Nihalcea pond in a wintertime is nearly 20% larger then during the summer.

The surface size is very important for the climate change: single 500 square meters pond could sequester yearly 1000 kg of carbon. It is as much as that produced by a car during the same period!

The mapping and assessment wouldn't be possible without the help of our local partner Mişcarea Ecologistă din Ştefan Vodă. We were also joined by other partners of the project: Purcari Communities, Agricola NGO, Rohožník, Regionalverband Pongau and QG Enviro.

Please find some photos of the evaluation of the ecosystem of La Nihalcea pond – in frame of the project We4Nature & Nature4us project, financed by Central European Initiative - CEI. We met in Crocmaz, Moldova, for a participatory workshop aimed, between the others, on development of Co$ting Nature software to test pilot valuation of ecosystem services in transborder areas of Moldova and Ukraine: it will assure open and public access to ecological, biodiversity and water local data and enable further sustainable solutions.
In this regard we visited La Nihalcea pond. La Nihalcea is exceptionally important for freshwater biodiversity and carbon sequestration. It is a part of the expanded ponds system, which is partly degraded and can be rehabilitated through ecological restoration – a process that can be crucial to protect local ecosystems. Thanks to high fluctuations La Nihalcea has a good quality water, especially in the wintertime. As our local partner, Mişcarea Ecologistă din Ştefan Vodă (Ecological Movement Stefan Voda) explained us, during the summertime high phosphorus and potassium level, originated from agricultural activities, results in blooming.

We used easy, google maps based evaluation methods.

During our visit the international know-how providers joined us: Peter Švaral, the major of Rohožník, Slovakia, Stephan Maurer from Regionalverband Pongau, Austria and Alessia Di Seclì from QG Enviro, Italy. The Agricola NGO was there with us, as well, in the framework of cross-border netrwork enhancement.

We will keep observing the pond and updating our data!

Embassy of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Poland about our promotional event: brilliant Moldavian wines and beautiful ceramics made in social hub in Belarus were promoted together. Nice to be back to such a nice event and place Wino i jazz together with our partners and friends Warsztat Terapii Zajęciowej w Wąbrzeźnie Etcetera GOGU Winery EQUINOX WINES @PAŞCANI Wines Тарелка маркет

Warsaw commemorating Mayor of Gdańsk Paweł Adamowicz! R.I.P.

Such a beautiful project implemented by our Myanmar partners!

#tarelkamarket : tea, coffe & lemonade offered by #cafeinsider : the inclusive cusine!

#tarelkamarket in Minsk: it's a tremendous pleasure to host our friends from #dobroevarenie or #доброеваренье

#tarelkamarket: fairs of social ceramics to kick off at 5 pm, #cultkorpus in Minsk: you are genuine more than warmly welcomed!
Thanks to a generous support of #PolishAid of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland!

Keeping old, indigenous sorts of fruits = maintaining the old orchards = contributing to so-called landscape conservation effort. Being obvious and widely acknowledged!

Development Policy Foundation started to "contribute" its part in Codru, Central Moldova.

The new product was launched under #PalancaDelights at Casa Parinteasca: sour apple jelly made of local, late, frost and pest resistant variety of apples #Заячаморда or hare's muzzle.

The project was made possible thanks to a generous support from PAFW/Polish American Freedom Foundation #programRITA by Fundacja Edukacja dla Demokracji

And here are the masques: guess who is who!
Hint: D-na. Tatiana is wearing her own unfeigned masque!
We are promoting the the handicraft workshops offered by Palanca, Muzeul Casa Parinteasca The project was made possible thanks to a generous support from PAFW/Polish American Freedom Foundation #programRITA by Fundacja Edukacja dla Demokracji

Feel invited! If you'll be in Minsk, Belarus, it's the best possibility to buy fancy presents for Christmas. Fully social project / the ceramic is made in frame of occupational therapy workshops in Puchoviche, Svir, Stolbce in Belarus, implemented by our friends from Warsztat Terapii Zajęciowej w Wąbrzeźnie and financed by #PolishAid