Purchases and Acquisitions
The BLM may purchase or acquire land and interests in land (including access easements, conservation easements, mineral rights, and water rights) if funding is available, acquisition is supported in a land use plan, and there are no title defects, hazardous materials, or other mitigating local issues.
Acquiring land through purchase can enhance recreation opportunities, preserve open space, strengthen resource protection, and provide an alternative for transferring ownership to the BLM when a land exchange or other alternatives are not available. Lands may also be acquired through donation; such offers may be generally accepted as a gift to the United States if the lands are contiguous to and “block-up” existing public lands. Acquiring land through donation may provide the landowner an income tax deduction based on the appraised value of the donation.
Read about the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a federal program that supports voluntary conservation of private lands lands.