The Rio Turvo Hydrographic Basin, which is located in the Zona da Mata region, in Minas Gerais, within the Rio Doce Hydrographic Basin – located in the eastern region of the State of Minas Gerais and northeast of the State of Espírito Santo – has been widely affected by processes of erosion and soil degradation. Consequently, such processes directly compromise the quality of the watercourses that constitute it. Given the current scenario, strategies that minimize and promote the recovery of the characteristics of the hydrographic basin are required. The implementation and recovery of vegetation zones that reduce the damage caused by precipitation on exposed soil and their correct allotment are essential factors to obtain effective results. The tools available by a Geographic Information System (GIS) make it possible to approach the various factors involved in the environmental degradation of a basin, allowing the planning and, subsequently, the resolution of the problems associated with it. The Unit Stream Power Based Erosion Deposition (USPED) model estimates erosion and sediment deposition based on calculations which evaluates the change in sediment flow from the steepest slope, indicating whether a given area is more likely to be a producer or a deposit of sediments. Obtaining erosion and deposition patterns makes it possible to assess different possible soil cover scenarios, although the zones that show efficient locations for forest restoration are already known, the optimal allocation that maximizes the retention process of the sediments carried is extremely important. The predominance of pasture, agriculture + pasture and forest formation contributed to the concentration of deposition erosion values close to 0.10 ton ha -1 year -1, which is considered as a low rate of soil loss. The Genetic Algorithm (GA) was efficient in accurately allocating vegetation zones to reduce soil loss. This reduction was 53.85% for the scenario with 116 GA interactions and 45.45% for 200 interactions; the AG promoted a increase of 66.50% in the area of forest formation for the allocation of vegetation zones in this process. The methodology used proved to be applicable and consistent with the processes of erosion and deposition, being an effective tool for the study and environmental management, determination of priority areas for recovery and maintenance of the quality of environmental resources.