Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the location of the headquarters of the IUCN, the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
Detailed Explanation:
• IUCN History: Established in 1948 in Fontainebleau, France, it was the first global environmental union.
• Headquarters: The headquarters of IUCN is located in Gland, Switzerland. However, Morges (which is very close to Gland) served as its long-time headquarters and is often the option provided in standard forestry textbooks and older question banks.
• Red List: IUCN is most famous for producing the "Red List of Threatened Species," which is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
• Other Options: UNESCO is in Paris. The UN is in New York. New Delhi houses regional offices for many agencies but not the global HQ of IUCN.
Step 2: Final Answer:
The headquarters of IUCN is located in Morges (or Gland), Switzerland.