Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) of the funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 5096.310 shall be expended for the acquisition of land from willing sellers that are a high priority for both the state parks system and for habitat purposes, with priority given to projects that protect habitat for rare, threatened, or endangered species pursuant to a natural community conservation plan adopted pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 10 of the Fish and Game

Code, if the acquisition of the land is conducted in conjunction with a natural community conservation plan approved by the Department of Fish and Game prior to January 1, 1999, or if the acquisition is approved by statute. Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 5096.310, those land acquisitions may be for either new or existing units of the state park system.