(a) The Department of Agriculture may, subject to the approval of the Governor:
(1) Receive gifts, donations, contributions and leases of land;
(2) Enter into long-term leases or cooperative agreements with private persons, groups of persons, or the federal government through any of its agencies or departments for desirable lands;
(3) Make expenditures from any funds available to the Department and not otherwise allocated for managing and developing such state forest areas as, in the judgment of the Department, further the forest interests of the State.
(b) All lands or rights appertaining thereto acquired in the name of the State by the Department of Agriculture and all lands turned over to the Department by gift, devise, grant, lease, agreement or otherwise shall be held, managed, regulated and controlled by the Department under Chapters 10, 26 and 91 of this title as state forest in accordance with law, and such grant, devise, lease or agreement as is entered into by the Department as in its judgment shall be to the best interest of the people of this State.