We investigated the socio-economic dimensions of converting of coppice forests to high forests in Istanbul Forest District Directorate. We explained the occurrence of coppice forests in historical process. We focused on the factors affecting continuation of coppice forests and identified socio-economic structures of forest villager. As material we used the related literature and survey data. Surveys were conducted in 2003 with 203 forest villagers. As research methods we used descriptive analysis and relationship analysis and as significance level accepted 5%. We determined demographic and socio-economic and environmental characteristics of forest villagers using frequencies and percentage techniques. Furthermore we tested whether there is relationship between socio-economic variables with chi square independence test. In this context the overall conversion of coppice forests to high forests could lead to loss income of forest villagers, increase of forest crimes such as unauthorized logging and unauthorized grazing in the long run.