Thousands of environmental activists are converging on France's Poitou region for a week-long protest against 'megabasins' - large water reservoirs for irrigation.

The demonstrations, centered in Deux-Sèvres and neighboring areas, include a 'water village' in Melle and planned actions in Saint-Sauvant and La Rochelle.

Protesters argue these reservoirs benefit only a small percentage of farmers and promote intensive agriculture at the expense of a shared water resource.

The events have drawn international participation and heightened security measures, with authorities seizing potential weapons and identifying individuals of concern.

This mobilization follows violent clashes in Sainte-Soline last year, marking an escalation in the ongoing debate over water management and sustainable farming practices in France.