The Centre for Combating Desertification since 1998 significantly contributed to developing the human resources in its field. Around the Caspian a total of almost 50 experts have been trained in various issues:

• Investigation of vegetation and soil phenomena for desertification assessment
• Remote sensing
• Socio-economic regional analysis
• Public participation
• Regional Planning practices
• Database management
• Institutional strengthening
• Project management
• Office management including financial issues
• Presentation skills.

At the end of Tacis Phase 2 in autumn 2001 all five countries developed their own desertification working group for the Caspian issues. Taking into account the lack of desertification related scientific-technical institutions in some Caspian countries this is, compared to the starting point in mid 1998 a big effort.

Since 1998 the CRTC Combating Desertification provided support for these experts in on-the job training and in separated training courses for all Caspian countries, such as

• Desertification and GIS (ArcView) March-June 1999
• Socio-Economical Regional Analysis October 2000
• Public Participation in Desertification October 2000
• Remote Sensing and WinChips February-March 2001
• Advanced GIS and MS Access Database April-May 2001.

The participants received especially developed manuals. An important approach has been in all courses to work under real conditions. This includes a three-day fieldwork for participation issues living under rural conditions. The approach for GIS training under the support of the trainer has always been to start mapping works for their country.