Once thriving throughout the Great Southern, cockatoo numbers are believed to have been reduced to a small number in the Fitzgerald National Park.

Under a joint project between the Department of Environment and Conservation and Department of Planning, the funding will help in the survey of the Carnaby’s nesting and living habitats.

Information will be plotted and made available to planners and developers, landholders and community.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the project was part of the State Government’s $3.5million allocation to Natural Resource Management projects and would lead to better informed decision-making in future land development.

“Carnaby’s black cockatoos have been specially protected by the State Government in response to the reduction of habitat and food sources which has caused a decline in numbers over the years,” she said.

One of the project’s major objectives was to develop a geographic information system tool that would assist both conservation and land-use planning.

Survey information will be finalised by the middle of 2010 and be available online.