Agro-ecological characterisation (AEC) involves the inventory, characterisation and orderly arrangement of the physical proper- ties of the natural environment. These include climate, soils, land cover, water resources and agricultural production. AEC intends to assist farmers to increase output and to make their farming systems more sustainable. AEC is a scientific, holistic approach. But farmers too, have their version of AEC. The objective of this research is an improved understanding of the local variations in land quality from the farmer's perspec- tive. The understanding of the local knowledge should allow a more rapid and better definition of suitable management. A methodology for multi-scale agro-ecological characterisation will be developed which integrates local farmer experience and scientific techniques.