Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110
§1135 Gifts, Bequests, and Contributions
Title 16 › CHAPTER 23 — NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM › § 1135
Summary
The Secretary of Agriculture can accept donated land inside designated wilderness to keep it wild, and can accept land next to those areas if they notify the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House 60 days before. Land accepted becomes part of the wilderness and may be managed under the gift’s agreement if it matches the chapter’s rules. The Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior can accept private donations to support the chapter’s purposes.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §1135
Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Acceptance by Secretary of Agriculture of land for preservation as wilderness; regulations
The Secretary of Agriculture may accept gifts or bequests of land within wilderness areas designated by this chapter for preservation as wilderness. The Secretary of Agriculture may also accept gifts or bequests of land adjacent to wilderness areas designated by this chapter for preservation as wilderness if he has given sixty days advance notice thereof to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Land accepted by the Secretary of Agriculture under this section shall be come part of the wilderness area involved. Regulations with regard to any such land may be in accordance with such agreements, consistent with the policy of this chapter, as are made at the time of such gift, or such conditions, consistent with such policy, as may be included in, and accepted with, such bequest.
(b)Authorization to accept private contributions and gifts
The Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept private contributions and gifts to be used to further the purposes of this chapter.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 1135
Title 16, Conservation
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110