The desertification is the result of a combination of climatic factors added the consequences of impacting human activities in arid and semi-arid developed environments. The areas of desertification, especially the northeast of Brazil, are expanding, compromising the natural resources in quality and quantity, and the exercise of certain economic activities. Based on this discussion, it is necessary the development and implementation of preventive and corrective measures to contain the spread and establishment of desertification. Based on this need, the article brings presented a methodology for detecting and prospecting areas susceptible to degradation, as an analytical cut the watershed of the Medio Jaguaribe, in the State of Ceara. The compartmentalization of the basin was carried out highlighting key aspects such as: environmental conditions and use/occupation, spatialized in thematic maps. The methodological aspects were highlighted in details, to demonstrate that the proposal can be applied to other areas/sectors. The main results can be noted that the basin test is susceptible to desertification, particularly in the areas of semi-arid backlands, and which the proposed method is effective in detecting areas susceptible to degradation and can be used in other sectors with adjustments made to the investigated object.