Priorities for wetland and bottomland hardwood forest acquisition shall be directed jointly by the director of the wildlife resources agency and the commissioner of agriculture, or their designees. The two (2) shall meet periodically as needed to set the priorities for wetland and bottomland hardwood forest acquisition, and no individual tract shall be purchased without the joint consent of the commissioner of agriculture and the director of the wildlife resources agency. The requirements of this section shall be met before any steps in wetland and bottomland hardwood forest acquisition, as described in § 11-14-403, are taken.