(1) The consent of the State of Mississippi is hereby given to the acquisition by the United States, by purchase or gift, of land within or adjacent to existing national forests in Mississippi, subject to prior approval of: (1) the board of supervisors of the county wherein such land is located, by order spread upon its minutes; and (2) the Mississippi Forestry Commission; provided, however, that not more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) acres may be acquired in the entire state under the provisions of this section and Section 3-5-15.

Provided further, that not more than five hundred (500) acres may be purchased or donated in any one (1) county outside the existing boundaries of any one (1) existing national forest.

The provisions of this section and Section 3-5-15 shall not apply to, or be construed to prohibit, any landowner owning lands in the State of Mississippi who may desire to exchange any part or all of such lands with the United States Government, or any agency thereof, within the external boundaries of an existing national forest for an equal amount of land or lands of equal value owned by the United States Government, or any agency thereof.

(2) There is hereby exempted from the provisions of this section and Section 3-5-15 any county in which State Highway No. 18 intersects State Highway No. 35 and any county in which State Highway No. 18 intersects State Highway No. 15.

(3) There is hereby exempted from the provisions of this section any lands sold and conveyed by the State of Mississippi pursuant to Laws, 1998, ch. 304, § 1.