Mankind evolved in an environment with large woodland and forest areas - sources of a great variety of resources. The trees and plants provided fruits, nuts, leaves and roots. The forests provided a habitat for insects and animals - a small but important part of early man's diet. The woodlands were also a refuge from predators. But the most valuable asset of the forest was its wood.
Wood is hard and light and can be fashioned into almost any shape.
It was also plentiful and an ideal material for use in tools or building. This gave man a huge advantage as he didn't have to consume as much food and he could expand into cooler, otherwise uninhabitable areas.