Legislative Representation and the Environment: Lessons from a case study of Cameroon

This policy brief highlights the existing incentives that provide an opportunity for legislators to effectively perform as well as the disincentives which impede the legislator’s effectiveness. Within this analysis, areas requiring urgent attention and redress have equally been identified as a means to orienting policy reformers and decision makers in search of instituting a more representative democratic system of governance through legislative role. The policy paper is drawn from a broad case study of legislative environmental representation conducted in Cameroon over the last two years, within the area of the Mengame Sanctuary (South province) as the key field site. Data and information used in this analysis of incentives/disincentives and formulation of policy options were provided by: documentary and policy analysis, field data collection; key informants and legislator interview.