Mr Walters Nsoh
PhD Researcher
Qualifications: BSc (Hons), LLM (Dist)
Email: nsoh.walters@surrey.ac.uk
Further information
Biography
Walters Nsoh joined the School of Law in October 2007 as a PhD student on a combined University of Surrey Research Scholarship and an Overseas Research Scholarship Awards Scheme (ORSAS). Walters holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from the University of Buea, Cameroon, an LLM (Distinction) from the University of Kent, UK and was a recipient of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Award Scheme. Before joining the University of Kent, Walters worked as a Natural Resource Manager/Consultant in Cameroon where he carried out, amongst other tasks the planning, monitoring and evaluation of development projects as well as conducting surveys on knowledge and attitudes towards forests and environment. Walters has also received several other scholarships and prizes for his work and achievements and prior to joining the School, he was a Trainee with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Geneva, where he was responsible for diverse projects including work related to the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement.
Research Interests
Cameroon relies heavily on primary sector activities such as exploitation of natural resources and agricultural growth for employment, foreign exchange, government revenue, and food. However, despite the central role that this sector plays in its economic development, they have remained poor. Various arguments have been advanced to justify the root cause of the problem. The extremely sensitive nature of the sector and perhaps the distortive macro and sectoral policy stances are thought to be responsible for the illegal and unsustainable management of forest for timber production. Many think that the existing laws in Cameroon have failed to check these illegalities in the sector and that until steps are taken both at the international and national levels to free the sector from the illegalities that have plagued it, the current legislation is insufficient to deal with the problem. This therefore, begs the critical question as to what kind of ‘steps’ are envisaged as a means of preventing illegal activities and improving on forest management in Cameroon. This research approaches issues from a land and property rights perspective and will emphasise the need to address the identified issues in light of accepted and emerging rights of indigenous peoples/forest-dwelling communities under international law.
| Supervisors | Prof Rosalind Malcolm, Prof Indira Carr and Mr Francesco Sindico |
Publications
W. Nsoh, Controlling Illegal Logging and the Trade in Illegally Harvested Timber: An Assessment of Forest/Timber Certification as an Instrument to Ensure Legal and Sustainable Timber Production (VDM Verlag Dr. Muller Saarkrucken, Germany 2009) ISBN 978-3639132984