Watersheds play a fundamental role in the hydrological cycle, providing essential resources for societal development and supporting human, economic, and social activities. This study aimed to identify the spatial dimension of degradation in watersheds in the northeastern Brazil's coastal region. Cartographic modeling techniques were applied using a Geographic Information System based on a set of variables gathered from various sources. The results showed that extensive agricultural practices, such as grazing and sugarcane cultivation, have negative impacts, contributing to increased soil degradation. The analysis identified more degraded areas in the Rio Capibaribe watershed, which stands out for having a moderately degraded class in transition to degraded. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Sul and Norte watersheds exhibit lower degradation levels but experience strong urban influence, highlighting distinct environmental pressures in different regions. Additionally, human activities such as livestock farming, agriculture, and urban expansion were identified as the primary drivers of environmental degradation, exacerbating the fragmentation of natural ecosystems. The findings highlight the urgent need for public ecosystem restoration policies that promote sustainable natural resource use, encourage family farming, and integrate practical approaches to address the mapped environmental degradation. (c) 2025 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.