Despite protests by preservationists, there was little alternative.
( ( Despite ( protests ( by preservationists ) ) ) ( , ( there ( ( was ( little alternative ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN Despite) (NP (NP (NNS protests)) (PP (IN by) (NP (NNS preservationists))))) (, ,) (NP (EX there)) (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (RB little) (JJ alternative))) (. .)))
There wasn't much of an alternative despite the cries of the preservationalists.
( There ( ( ( ( was n't ) ( much ( of ( an alternative ) ) ) ) ( despite ( ( the cries ) ( of ( the preservationalists ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBD was) (RB n't) (ADJP (JJ much) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT an) (NN alternative)))) (PP (IN despite) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN cries)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NNS preservationalists)))))) (. .)))