Across the grasslands and woodlands of Africa, a network of researchers is collecting long-term, highly detailed data on plants and their environments. This effort fills significant gaps in our understanding of how woodland savanna ecosystems function and respond to direct human impacts and climate change. Professors and students at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Biodiversity Research Centre have joined colleagues from international universities in this new network. One of the main tools they are using to better understand woodlands is called a Permanent Sampling Plot (hereafter, ‘plot’), which is a one-hectare block of land that supports a representative sample of vegetation. After they are identified and marked, the researchers can return to these plots every few years to re-record detailed information on the plants within them. This data is used to monitor the species present, their size, and how these characteristics change over time. Each plot is carefully selected to capture the diversity of the landscape, taking into account vegetation cover, species composition, elevation, soil type, and land-use history. While the plots must be accessible, we typically select areas that are unlikely to be disturbed by humans, allowing us to understand natural processes and apply these insights to other natural areas. We also explore how people interact with the land by establishing plots in areas grazed by cattle or adjacent to farmland. This work is always done in collaboration with landowners and local residents to ensure long-term access to these valuable sites.