Current funding for the NAFI web service runs out on June 30th, 2025. The current funders of the web service, the National Emergency Management Agency, do not want to continue as sole funders of the service after this date.
While NAFI produces many targeted services funded by clients including a validated fire history of the Savanna Burning carbon project regions for DCCEEW, the website has been funded as a public good service by the Federal Government for over a decade as it benefits a broad range users across 80% of Australia.
But this Federal funding has often been short-term, one year at a time. This produces uncertainty for our users and makes planning and recruitment more difficult.
To resolve this issue we have submitted a $3.4M Federal budget item for four year funding of the NAFI web service as it produces benefits for a range of Federal bodies. This funding covers ongoing maintenance, development and managing risks.
For more information on the funding see the NAFI web service funding backgrounder.
This funding will provide security for a service with data and tools uniquely suited to managing large areas of country across Australia's inland and northern regions - that is now a vital part of managing fires for an increasing number of land managers and agency staff across Australia.
LATE JUNE UPDATE: The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have said they are looking at options to fund the NAFI web service for 2025-26 and with the funding we outlined in our budget item submission. This funding is not confirmed yet but we are working with them and hope to have 2025-26 funding resolved soon.
We are also hoping that longer-term NAFI funding will come through collaboration with the National Bushfire Intelligence Capability (NBIC) group.