ABSTRACT Early forest gap regeneration may be generated by postdisturbance seed rain and by seed, seedling or bud banks ( i.e ., resprouting). The relative importance of each process may depend on several factors ( e.g ., fruit/seed production, abundance and behavior of seed dispersers, gap characteristics, etc.). We experimentally compared the importance of seed‐bank and seed‐rain affecting early recruitment of seedlings in an Amazonian forest (Zafire Biological Station, Colombia), using soil transplants from forests to gaps and seed rain enclosures. We found that, during the 8‐mo study, the seed‐bank contributed with a larger number of individuals and species than seed‐rain. The low seedling recruitment rates may be associated with reduced populations of animal seed‐dispersers due to hunting and/or low levels of forest fruit production.