---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1135"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1135"
heading: "Gifts, bequests, and contributions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1135"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — National Wilderness Preservation System"
---

# §1135. Gifts, bequests, and contributions

- (a) **Acceptance by Secretary of Agriculture of land for preservation as wilderness; regulations—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture may accept gifts or bequests of land within [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) designated by this chapter for preservation as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13). The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture may also accept gifts or bequests of land adjacent to [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) designated by this chapter for preservation as [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) 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](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture under this section shall be come part of the [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) 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](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture or the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior is authorized to accept private contributions and gifts to be used to further the purposes of this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 88–577, § 6, Sept. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 896.)