According to sources in the department, the Paulownia tree attains a circumference of 30 to 40 cm in about ten years and provides around 5 cubic metres of timber. It becomes ideal for felling within 15 to 20 years.

Enthused by the results from the pilot project, the department is all set to start practical experimentation in areas including Mathura, Etawah and Mau. With the flowering of trees planted five years ago, work has also been initiated on developing an indigenous clone by breeding under domestic conditions.

Ninespecies of the Paulownia tree are found in China while one variety is found in Cambodia and Vietnam. Flowering of the tree commences after five to six years. The timber produced from the tree is ideal for furniture, premium grade plywood and paper.

In addition, research has also shown that plantation of this variety of trees also improves agriculture yield of farm fields. It also provides fuel wood as well as fodder for livestock since its leaves and flowers are readily eaten by pigs, sheeps and even rabbits.

Researchers feel that plantation of the tree will go a long way in alleviating the scarcity which has been plaguing the timber market, particularly in northern states. In Uttar Pradesh in particular, the past year has seen a considerable dwindling of export of popular carved wooden furniture, made of seasum wood both on account of untimely death of trees in various areas and a supreme court directive issued last year ordering closure of unlicenced saw mills.

The result has been a sharp drop in theproduction of furniture, a speciality of the Saharanpur belt and a skyrocketing of prices.