In the early hours of January 25th, three citizen scientist surveyors from GECO, Goongerah Environment Centre Office, conducted a survey for Greater Gliders in old growth forest on the Errinundra Plateau. Logging machinery had just moved in and logging was about to commence. The survey was conducted to determine if the species was present in high enough densities to trigger legal protection. Fifteen Greater Gliders were found in about 800m. This is a huge population - legal protection and a 100 hectare protected area are the regulatory requirement be created.

The survey was finished at 3am, the data compiled and a report written. Submission to the state government was made just before 9am. One hour later, VicForests were forced to stop logging.

This week on Dirt Radio GECO's Ed Hill talks about the survey, citizen science and acting to protect high conservation value forests from logging.

GECO is a grass roots community group based in the small town of Goongerah in far East Gippsland, Victoria. Since 1993 they have campaigned for protection of East Gippsland’s forests.