Restoring tropical forests is essential to address global climate change, to maintain and conserve diversity and ecosystem services. The establishment and occupation of three forest restoration strategies (Total Seedling Planting (PAT), Diversity Islands (ID) and Direct Seeding (SD)) of the forest vegetation associated with watercourses was analyzed. It were evaluated: the number of individuals, resprouting intensity, above-ground biomass, canopy area, average diameter and height, per individual, in 58 sample units (10 x 30 m) distributed among the strategies after 2.5 years of implantation. It was also evaluated the main species and their similarities between the strategies. The SD provided more effective as the number of individuals, biomass and treetop area, while the intensity of resprouting was higher in ID and there were no differences in mean height and diameter. Each strategy presented a particular set of most successful species and the most similar were those that used seedlings (PAT and ID). The highlight of the SD strategy is magnified when considering ecological perspectives, and social costs involved. The species contributed to the differentiation of strategies, because they provide distinct ecological functions that influence ecological processes at the community level and individuals.Restaurar as florestas tropicais é essencial para enfrentar mudanças climáticas globais, manter e conservar a diversidade e os serviços ecossistêmicos. Foi analisado o estabelecimento e ocupação em três estratégias de restauração florestal (Plantio em Mudas em Área Total (PAT), Ilhas de Diversidade (ID) e Semeadura Direta (SD)) da vegetação florestal associada a cursos d’água.  Foram avaliados: o número de indivíduos, intensidade de perfilhamento, biomassa acima do solo, área de copa, diâmetro e altura médios, por indivíduo, em 58 unidades amostrais (10 x 30 m) distribuídas entre as estratégias após 2,5 anos da implantação. Também foram avaliadas as principais espécies e suas similaridades entre as estratégias. A SD proporcionou maior efetividade quanto ao Número de indivíduos, Biomassa e Área de Copa, enquanto, a intensidade de perfilhamento foi maior nas ID e não houveram diferenças quanto a média de altura e diâmetro. Cada estratégia apresentou um conjunto particular de espécies de maior sucesso e as mais similares foram aquelas que utilizaram mudas (PAT e ID). A estratégia SD destacou-se no estudo, especialmente quando considerados aspectos ecológicos e custos envolvidos. As espécies contribuíram na diferenciação das estratégias, pois, proporcionaram funções ecológicas distintas que influenciam processos ecológicos em nível de comunidade e indivíduos. Palavras-chave: restauração florestal; nucleação; semeadura direta; plantio de mudas; floresta Amazônica.   Effectiveness in the tropical forest restoration: how the differential performance of species and ecological context affect the establishment and occupation   ABSTRACT: Restoring tropical forests is essential to address global climate change, to maintain and conserve diversity and ecosystem services. The establishment and occupation of three forest restoration strategies (Total Seedling Planting (PAT), Diversity Islands (ID) and Direct Seeding (SD)) of the forest vegetation associated with watercourses was analyzed. It were evaluated: the number of individuals, resprouting intensity, above-ground biomass, canopy area, average diameter and height, per individual, in 58 sample units (10 x 30 m) distributed among the strategies after 2.5 years of implantation. It was also evaluated the main species and their similarities between the strategies. The SD provided more effective as the number of individuals, biomass and treetop area, while the intensity of resprouting was higher in ID and there were no differences in mean height and diameter. Each strategy presented a particular set of most successful species and the most similar were those that used seedlings (PAT and ID). The highlight of the SD strategy is magnified when considering ecological perspectives, and social costs involved. The species contributed to the differentiation of strategies, because they provide distinct ecological functions that influence ecological processes at the community level and individuals. Keywords: forest restoration; nucleation; direct seeding; seedling planting; Amazon rainforest.