Mangrove forests were traditionally viewed as A. unproductive wastelands. People therefore reasoned that their removal would improve the health of their ecosystems, leading to their degradation.
The correct is the first answer.
Definitely i would expect them to concern themselves with your problems when they are so beset with their own. Beset means having a lot of trouble with something, or having to deal with a lot of something causes problems. For example in a sentence; With the amount of traffic nowadays, even a trip across town is beset with dangers.