Joseph P. Barsky

Headshot of Mr. Joseph P. Barsky in a dark blue suit.

Department of Environmental Science and Forestry
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Voice: (203) 974-8540 Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail: Joseph.Barsky@ct.gov

Expertise:

J.P. is research forester with more than 25 years of experience at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. His work supports field-based forest research, forest health monitoring, ecological surveys, long-term forest studies, as well as professional and public outreach.

His areas of expertise include oak mast surveillance, forest health assessment, tree identification, oak regeneration, deer browse impacts, invasive plant ecology, beech leaf disease survey work, insect defoliation monitoring, and forestry education.

He works with CAES scientists, land managers, students, professional foresters, public agencies, and community groups to support applied forest research and communicate practical forest science to Connecticut residents and natural resource professionals.

Mr. Barsky is a State of Connecticut Certified Forester, Certified Pesticide Applicator and holds a Safe Boating Certificate. He is available for selected speaking engagements on forest health, tree identification, oak mast, invasive plants, and Southern New England forest resources.

Current Work:

Mr. Barsky currently supports applied forestry and forest health work in the Department of Environmental Science and Forestry. He serves as lead researcher for the Connecticut Oak Mast Surveillance Program and supports forest health monitoring activities including beech leaf disease survey work, aerial insect defoliation survey support, spongy moth-related forest health studies, oak regeneration research, and applied forest management projects.

Previous Work:

Mr. Barsky has supported research focused on urban tree responses to physiological stressors, blacklegged tick ecology, invasive aquatic plant surveys, soil analysis, and mosquito surveillance.

Station Career:

Agricultural Research Technician II: 2014-present
Agricultural Research Technician I: 2001-2014
Research Assistant III: 1999-2001
Research Assistant II: 1997-1999

Education:

B.S. - Biological Resource Engineering Technology, Forestry Concentration, University of Maine, Orono, 1995

Professional Service:

Mr. Barsky is active with several appointments to professional and institutional committees. He has served as Chair of the New England Society of American Foresters, editor of the NESAF News Quarterly, and a member of the NESAF Board of Directors. His service also includes leadership and committee work with forestry education, professional organizations, and public outreach.

Society of American Foresters / New England Society of American Foresters
State Consulting Committee for Agricultural Science and Technology Education
Connecticut Environmental Review Team
Sleeping Giant State Park Association
Connecticut Tree Protective Association
CAES Safety Committee
CAES Plant Science Day Committee

Selected Publications:

Happy Oaktober! Let’s Celebrate our Oak Trees— Barsky, Joseph P. 2025. Giant News, Newsletter of the Sleeping Giant Park Association, Issue 133.
Excluding deer browse increases stump sprouting success and height growth following regeneration harvests — Ward, J. S., Ward, E. B., & Barsky, J. P. 2025. Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
Multiyear defoliations in southern New England increases oak mortality — Ward, J. S., Jones, C. C., & Barsky, J. P. 2022. Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
Anatomical and chemical responses of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) to blue-stain (Ophiostoma minus) inoculation — Arango-Velez, A., Chakraborty, S., Blascyk, K., Phan, M. T., Barsky, J., & El Kayal, W. 2018. Forests.
Stormwise: Integrating arboriculture and silviculture to create storm-resilient roadside forests — Ward, J. S., Worthley, T. E., Degnan, T. J., & Barsky, J. P. 2017. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report NRS-P-167.
Structural changes in the New England landscape during the last 100 years — Barsky, Joseph P. 2004. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report NE-314.