Wood Quarantine in Brookline Could Last Years

Officials say parts of Brookline could remain under a wood-product quarantine for at least four and a half years as tree experts inspect and re-inspect thousands of trees looking for the Asian longhorn beetle, a tree-killing insect discovered in Jamaica Pond last week.

Brookline Tree Warden Tom Brady told selectmen tonight that inspectors will need to re-inspect the entire quarantine zone a total of three times without finding evidence of infestation before restrictions can be lifted. Each inspection takes nine to 18 months and could take longer, depending on weather and other factors.

"The only way to actually go out and check for these is go stem by stem, every tree in this area," Brady said. "This is not a short-term issues – this is a long-term threat."

The quarantine zone, which reaches from Jamaica Plain to as far north as Route 9 in Brookline, was established Tuesday, July 6, after six infested trees were discovered on the grounds of Faulkner Hospital. While the quarantine is in place, no wood pieces larger than one inch in diameter may be removed from the designated area.

Federal and state officials have organized a series of informational meetings to informal residents about the proper handling of wood debris and train them to help identify the beetles.

Check back with Brookline Patch tomorrow, July 13,  for a complete update on the search for the Asian longhorn beetle.