Can paulownia replace spruce in European construction?

The European market for timber framing and construction is today dominated by spruce-based products. The available standing volume is difficult to assess but remains substantial even after 5 years of the bark beetle crisis. The quantity of spruce available, the strength of the associated industry and its European involvement combine with sanitary felling to undoubtedly allow spruce to dominate the European structural timber market for at least a certain number of years. Alternative species have a lot of work to do to carve out a share of the market. This domination will undoubtedly come to an end. Replanting ...