The Carolinas grabbed the biggest share Tuesday of the largest private conservation deal in the South's history, gaining more than 116,000 acres of coveted river forests sold by International Paper.

Campers and hikers, under the $300 million transaction, will get access to lands that set conservationists' hearts racing. In all, International Paper agreed to sell 218,000 acres in 10 states.

The deal gives the Carolinas a rare chance to save forest-rimmed rivers that are some of the last, best corridors for black bears, warblers and other wildlife. Eighty percent of the South's bottomland forests have been cleared.

It also highlights the massive shift in who owns the region's forests. With forest companies like International Paper shedding land, conservationists will compete with investment companies and developers.

"You don't have this kind of opportunity very often," said Katherine Skinner, director of the Nature Conservancy's N.C. chapter.

The conservancy and a second group, the Conservation Fund, will act as middlemen in the exchange. The groups bought the land and will resell most of it to state agencies within a few years.

The transaction boosts North Carolina's lagging goal of protecting 1 million acres by 2010. The 77,000 acres to be turned over to the state puts it about halfway toward the goal.

Included in the sale are lands on North Carolina's Tar, Roanoke and Chowan rivers in the northeastern corner. South Carolina preserved tracts along the Great Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee and Savannah rivers.

"My assumption is that this was the best of the best" to be saved, said Reid Wilson of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina. "There may be some more, but not a lot more."

The sale price for that land -- $80 million -- may pressure lawmakers to approve a $1 billion land-bond issue that conservation groups want on the November ballot. Gov. Mike Easley, who announced Tuesday's transaction in Raleigh, has not taken a position on the bonds, his staff said.

North Carolina's three environmental trust funds, including the $100 million-a-year clean water fund, are also likely funding options.

S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford signed a measure Tuesday that will let the state Heritage Trust borrow $32 million for forest acquisition.

International Paper, one of the world's largest private landowners, announced last summer that it would explore selling its 6.8 million acres of forest.

"The crux of the issue is whether the land is more valuable for us to hold it or to sell it," said spokeswoman Amy Sawyer. Up to 44 million acres of privately owned forest is expected to be sold over the next 25 years, the Nature Conservancy said.

The announcement drew conservation groups to the bargaining table.

"We saw this as an important opportunity to protect in perpetuity many of our most ecologically significant lands," International Paper Chairman John Faraci said in a statement.

About 65,000 acres of the N.C. land is expected to go to the state Wildlife Resources Commission, with up to 1,800 acres adding to state parks and 8,000 acres being resold to a hunting club, the Nature Conservancy said.

Under the agreement, IP will continue to harvest timber from much of the land until native plants regrow. That could take as long as 20 to 50 years, Skinner said.

International Paper still owns more than 500,000 acres in both of the Carolinas. More conservation deals could happen.

"There will be opportunities again, but not a bargain like we got today," said Richard Rogers, conservation director for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Along the Roanoke, much of the land is swampy and unsuited to building, said Cindy Tripp of Roanoke River Partners, a group that boosts ecotourism.

But the region is beginning to realize that paddling, fishing and birdwatching will be an economic mainstay, Tripp said.

"I know where a lot of the special places on the river are, and of course I'm pulling for them," she said. "But the (state) got a lot of spectacular places."

THE DEAL

The Nature Conservancy will buy more than 76,000 acres in North Carolina, most of it in the scenic northeastern corner, reselling the land to the state within three years. A second group, the Conservation Fund, will buy 500 acres. The two groups will jointly buy 39,000 acres in South Carolina, also to be transferred into public ownership.