Chinese farmer's 'forest of cameras' fails to boost compensation bid

A farmer in China's Hubei province attempted to inflate his compensation payout by installing more than 170 surveillance cameras on his land. The farmer's elaborate setup, which created a "forest of cameras" on a hillside in Badong county, was intended to capitalize on a compulsory purchase scheme for a new highway.

Under China's land acquisition policies, residents can claim compensation for assets on their property, such as fruit trees, sheds, or security cameras. However, the farmer reportedly installed the cameras 12 months after construction in the area had been banned. Local authorities have stated that he will not be compensated for all the devices.

“

the man was trying to increase his payout under a compulsory purchase scheme to build a new highway.

Footage of the camera-filled orchard circulated widely on social media, prompting speculation about the necessity of such extensive surveillance for a seemingly ordinary orchard. The incident highlights a tactic sometimes employed by residents facing land acquisition, where they add structures or plant trees in the hope of increasing their financial settlement.

“

the farmer had installed the cameras in his orchard 12 months after construction in the area had been banned and insisted he would not be paid for all the cameras.