This issue of TMUniverse showcases two grantees with current projects in February and March. The first is Mongol Environmental Conservation, an environmental organization that works to preserve the natural resources of Mongolia. The second is FotoFest, an organization in Houston, Texas that holds the largest festival of Russian photography in the United States.

We hope you enjoy this more in-depth examination of the projects happening in the coming months.

Best wishes!

The TMU Team

______________

Fun fact: 

On February 24th, Estonia will celebrate its Iseseisvuspäev (Independence Day). Happy Independence Day, Estonia!  

MONGOL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

For the past three years, TMU has supported Mongol Environmental Conservation (MEC), a project of Earth Island Institute, whose mission is to protect the future of the environment, natural resources, and culture of Mongolia. Current projects are manifold and represent key issues in the continued development in Mongolia including park management, climate change, mining and resource extraction, rural economies, and educational programs focused on these endeavors. Much of the work of MEC concerns Lake Hovsgol, a body of nearly 1% of the Earth's fresh water, often considered the sister to Lake Baikal. This February, MEC will continue its efforts to conserve greater parts of the Hovsgol watershed and the surrounding nature preserve, bolstering the work of the Hovsgol Science and Learning Center by providing both financial and logistical support. This will allow the Science and Learning Center to collect, analyze, and disseminate more successfully information regarding conservation efforts and outreach programs to local communities.

Photo courtesy of http://www.elstonhill.com/Hovsgol.html

For more

information, see MEC's website.