The Text

The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. Except as authorized by this section, they shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, to be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed. The legislature may authorize the leasing for such term as may by law fix of a parcel of not more than five acres of land in the forest preserve to any one person for camp and cottage purposes. The legislature may also authorize the exchange of lands owned by the state situate outside the forest preserve for lands not owned by the state situate within the forest preserve. The legislature may also authorize the sale of lands belonging to the state situate outside the forest preserve, but the money so obtained shall not be used except for the purchase of lands situate within the forest preserve and which, when so purchased, shall become a part of the forest preserve.