January 2010: The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) have announced the extension of a deadline to submit expressions of interest to participate in the first projects to be funded by the Forest Investment Programs (FIP).The deadline for eligible recipient countries to express their interest in being considered as participants in a pilot project has been extended to 1 February 2010. At its meeting on 29 October 2009, the FIP Sub-Committee, taking into account the current funding level for the FIP, agreed on five country or regional pilots, to be supported under the FIP. An Expert Group will be invited to recommend five pilots to the Sub-Committee and a list of up to three additional countries to be considered should funds become available to finance additional pilots or should some of the selected pilots prove not to be feasible. [FIP Pilot Programs]