Local-level biodiversity surveys in Finland are not up to par for biodiversity offsetting. These surveys, used for local planning, lack standardization and fail to adequately measure nature values and spatial considerations needed for offsets. A study of 206 surveys in Southwest Finland from 1997 to 2014 revealed three distinct groups based on nature values. Surveys also varied significantly between individual surveyors. The current execution of biodiversity surveys in Finland does not meet the quality standards required for effective biodiversity offsets. Standardization is necessary to ensure surveys are comparable and accurately measure biodiversity with ecologically and geographically important features.