CHARLESTON - MeadWestvaco plans to sell almost 11,000 acres on the Cooper River, and Gov. Mark Sanford and environmental groups hope it will remain undeveloped.

The paper company says it plans to sell its 10,697-acre Bonneau Ferry tract in Berkeley County, although no price has been set.

"The company is committed to seeking the best value for its shareholders while protecting the ecologically and historically significant features of this property," said spokeswoman Jennifer Howard.

MeadWestvaco announced last year it would sell 700,000 of the 3.1 million acres it owns nationwide, including Bonneau Ferry.

The tract -- one-third of the 30,000-acre Cooper River Historic District -- includes an old rice mill and mile markers from what was a road to Charleston in the 1700s.

It also is home to federally protected eagles and red cockaded woodpeckers.

Sanford plans to meet with John Luke, MeadWestvaco's chairman and chief executive officer, to ask the company not to sell to developers.

"The governor feels very strongly that conserving lands like those under discussion has a material impact on advancing the quality of life in South Carolina," Sanford spokesman Will Folks said.

Dana Beach, the director of the S.C. Coastal Conservation League, said he has heard the tract might be developed as a golf community. Company spokesman Casey Canonge said he had heard nothing of such a development.

Sanford's getting involved indicates talks about selling to conservation groups have broken down, Beach said.

He predicted a golf community would fail because it would be too far from Charleston and surrounded by the Francis Marion National Forest and private hunting preserves.

Although it's in the Cooper River Historic District, the property can still be developed, said Katherine Saunders of Historic Charleston Foundation.

MeadWestvaco had earlier opposed including it in the historic district. However, inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places only provides for added review of projects, such as highways, that use federal dollars.

The land has access to public water but no sewer. Any development would require a zoning change, Berkeley County planner Harold LeaMond said.

"We would love to see it in conservation, but if it's sold, we would love to see it be purchased by someone who would be a good steward of the property and realize what treasures are on it," Saunders said.

"We are trying to encourage everyone to do the right thing, but we know at some point the fair market objectives of the company would have to be met," said Father Francis Kline of neighboring Mepkin Abbey.

Canonge said MeadWestvaco hopes the future owners of the Bonneau Ferry tract will protect those things that make it significant.

"The old Comingtee house, the rice mill, the red cockaded woodpecker and bald eagles -- those are the things that make the property attractive to whomever purchases it," he said.