Gourmet Gumleaves

The Gourmet Gumleaves Project  is a science-led habitat restoration trial with a twist. Koalas and Greater Gliders are famously fussy eaters. They rely on eucalypt leaves for nearly all their nutritional needs.

But not all gumleaves are created equal.

Eucalypt species—and even individual trees—differ in their levels of nutrients and natural chemical defences. These compounds can make life tricky for leaf-eating wildlife, which must navigate chemically complex landscapes to meet their nutritional needs.

That’s why we (The Australian National University based research group led by Dr Kara Youngentob) are working with Redland City Council and the Redlands Indigiscapes Native Nursery to improve how we assess habitat nutritional quality and restore "nutritional landscapes"—measured not just by how many trees are planted, but by how good they are as food for native wildlife. 💚  This is great news for our leaf-loving wildlife—and biodiversity more broadly.

This project combines field trials, lab analyses, and cutting-edge science to grow the best quality food for our most iconic native folivores. We don’t want to eliminate chemical defences entirely—they help keep trees healthy—but even small, naturally occurring differences in their concentrations can make a big difference for animals that rely on these leaves for food.

Over the coming months and years, we’ll be monitoring how these trees grow and how their leaf chemistry changes. This is a critical first step in restoring “nutritional landscapes” that truly support koalas, greater gliders, and other specialist herbivores.

This is science in action—restoration with a purpose, creating better outcomes for biodiversity and community. 🌎 Think globally, plant locally. Let’s grow a future where wildlife thrives.

I'm proud to be part of this research for over a dozen years and counting (see pics below)!