Read the passage below carefully:
Urban wetlands across West African coastal cities, particularly around the Lekki Lagoon, have historically acted as natural buffer zones against seasonal flooding and storm surges. Beyond flood mitigation, these delicate ecosystems harbor endemic biodiversity and support local artisanal fishing communities. However, driven by rapid urbanization and lucrative real estate demands, large-scale land reclamation projects have systematically paved over these low-lying marshlands. Consequently, municipal planners now face severe infrastructural degradation, as unchecked run-off routinely submerges adjacent commercial districts during heavy monsoons. Environmental advocates argue that while short-term economic gains from property development are substantial, the long-term ecological and financial costs of replacing natural hydrological defense systems far outweigh the initial benefits. Restoring these degraded coastal wetlands is therefore not merely a conservation effort, but a vital economic imperative for sustainable urban resilience.
Statement: The central thesis of the passage is that short-term financial returns from coastal real estate development outweigh the long-term ecological and infrastructural costs of marshland destruction.
Answer: Answer