The Legislature hereby declares that the acquisition of interests or rights in real property for the preservation and conservation of the scenic lands and areas provided for in Section 7000 constitutes a public purpose for which public funds may be expended or advanced, and that any of the state departments specified in this chapter may acquire, by purchase, gift, grant, bequest, devise, lease, condemnation or otherwise, the fee or any lesser interest, development right, easement, covenant or other contractual right necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter. Any of said departments may also acquire the fee to any of the property for the purpose of conveying or leasing said property back to its original owner or another person under such covenants or other contractual arrangements as will conserve the scenic character and value of the property in accordance with the purposes of this chapter.