Molonglo Catchment Group president Karen Williams said the group received two grants: $34,000 to improve degraded land in the Lower Molonglo Nature Reserve, and $3945 to take care of a 2.3 hectare block next to the Chinese Embassy in Yarralumla.

Ms Williams said the small Yarralumla block was home to probably one of the most significant populations of button wrinklewort flowers in Australia, and was also an Aboriginal cultural site where artefacts had been found.

"On this block we have not only endangered species and weed control but we are also managing that on a site that has cultural issues and we are working with the Ngunnawal community," she said.

The funds for the Lower Molonglo Nature Reserve, between the Riverview and Molonglo property developments, would be used to remove invasive weeds, reintroduce native vegetation and improve biodiversity.

Environment Minister Simon Corbell said the Molonglo, Ginninderra and Southern ACT Catchment Groups had received $145,800 of the $185,000 funding given in this round of grants.

"These projects will focus on landscape restoration, enhancement of biodiversity and native habitat and removal of invasive weeds to ensure ecological health. This also contributes to improving urban waterway health."

The ACT Herpetological Association received the remaining $39,200 to expand the popular Canberra Nature Map database to include frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes, birds and butterflies.

The grant also included funding to develop an Android app to significantly increase the maps' accessibility.